Queen Sofia awarded gold medals to former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and actor Antonio Banderas from the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute in New York City.
While in New York, Her Majesty also visited a school in the South Bronx, a heavily Hispanic area.
Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia were on a whirlwind official trip to the U.S. earlier this week.
Their Royal Highnesses visited sites in California and then Florida, which included meetings with American politicians, including Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R).
Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia also visited cultural sites, met with business leaders, spoke with U.S.-based Spaniards and toured news outlets, including the Los Ageles Times and Univision in Miami.
Not surprisingly, the heirs to the Spanish throne highlighted the importance of Hispanic culture to the U.S.
The Spanish government agency that runs Royal homes and properties will compensate laborers who used to work on the King’s yacht the Fortuna.
The King and other members of the Royal Family have decided to stop regular sailing, mainly to conform with Spain’s current climate of austerity.
The former workers sued the agency, Patrimonio Nacional, and a contractor after their termination.
El Pais reported they will share more than 1 million euros in compensation.
Balearic Islands Judge José Castro this month seized the Barcelona mansion of King Juan Carlos’ daughter, Infanta Cristina, Duchess of Palma, and her husband Iñaki Urdangarin, Duke of Palma.
The mansion and other properties are serving as bond in the ongoing corruption case surrounding Urdangarin and former business partner Diego Torres, several news outlets reported.
Authorities accuse the Duke of using a non-profit company to make money from contracts with various government entities. He has claimed innocence.
The Barcelona mansion has been empty, with Infanta Cristina now living and working in Switzerland.
The home is, of course, not among the official Royal Palaces owned by the Spanish state or by local governments.
Click here for pictures of the home.
Update: A Spanish anti-corruption prosecutor involved in the case has again said he has no intention of formally involving Infanta Cristina as a suspect.
Photographer Annie Leibovitz and scientist Peter Higgs were among this year’s recipients of the annual Prince of Asturias awards, held in Oviedo, capital of the Principality of Asturias in Spain.
The awards are among the most important events that the Spanish Royal Family puts on every year. The ceremony is broadcast live on television and brings out thousands of spectators.
Beyond the formal events at Campoamor Theater and the Hotel of the Reconquest, the Prince and Princess of Asturias also award a town in the principality.
This year they recognized the community of Teverga for working to overcome the downturn in mining related employment.
Prince Felipe has been taking on an increasingly visible role in recent years after King Juan Carlos’ multiple operations.
King Juan Carlos, who recently underwent hip surgery, was notably not present for the Fiesta Nacional military parade in Madrid.
Prince Felipe, who is playing an increasingly visible role, presided over the Saturday event, along with his wife Princess Letizia.
Queen Sofia and Infanta Elena joined them later for a reception at the Royal Palace.
The Prince of Asturias stepping in for his father more and more has led to news outlets and politicians to suggest changes in the Constitution or at least Spanish law to give the Prince more of an official role.
The King and his son did meet with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and other officials at Zarzuela Palace today to discuss the upcoming Ibero-American Summit.
The Prince, because he is not a head of state or government, will not be able to step in for his father to lead the Spanish delegation. Instead he will host associated events.
Also in recent days, Queen Sofia celebrated her brother in law Carlos Zurita, the Duke of Soria, who heads a booster group for the famed Prado museum.
And in the ongoing saga over the corruption investigation plaguing the King’s son on law, Infanta Cristina’s husband, El País reported that their Barcelona home is on sale to make bond.
In recent days news outlets have been reporting about leaked information about the couple’s expenses, including shrimp fajitas at a Washington, D.C. area restaurant.
It seems that King Juan Carlos is fond of texting public officials in a jovial manner.
Joan Mesquida, former director general of the Spanish Civil Guard and former tourism chief, got a text from the King during a recent radio broadcast, according to El País.
So Mesquida went on the explain that the King not only texts, but is also quick to pick up the phone or return phone calls.
Don Juan Carlos is still recovering from his recent operation.
Other members of the Royal Family, meanwhile, have remained active.
This week Queen Sofia, for example, attended an exhibit at El Prado Museum.
She also donned her mantilla and formal black dress to commemorate the Patrol Madonna of the Civil Guard.
It’s not all good news for the Royal Family these days.
A judge is deciding whether to include the King’s daughter, Infanta Cristina, in her husband’s ongoing corruption investigation.
Members of the Royal Family greeted crowds in Madrid today during the annual Flag Day Red Cross fundraiser.
Queen Sofia presided over a booth at the Congress of Deputies.
Infanta Elena and Princess Letizia were elsewhere in the city, also greeting crowds and putting little Red Cross flags on them.
Earlier this week Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia were celebrated Police Day in Alcalá de Henares in the Madrid region.
King Juan Carlos has not held any public events since his recent surgery. He is already out of the hospital.
King Juan Carlos’ hip operation this week has been a success.
Queen Sofia has been among the several members of the Royal Family who have visited His Majesty at Quirón University Hospital in Madrid.
Also there this week were Infanta Elena and Infanta Cristina, plus Prince Felipe and Princes Letizia.
Doctors had to operate the King to address an infection stemming from hip replacement surgery.
They are now administering antibiotics and will soon have to operate again.
His Majesty received ambassadorial credentials before going into surgery. He did so at Zarzuela Palace, rather than the usual venue, the Royal Palace in downtown Madrid.
King Juan Carlos will be back in surgery in the coming days to deal with a rare infection stemming from a previous thigh procedure, the Royal Household said in a press conference yesterday.
The operation could put the king, 75, in recovery for several months, at a time when he has been wanting to be more active with the purpose of recovering his public image.
The head of the Royal Household said yesterday that Prince Felipe and other members of the Royal Family could continue to substitute the King at events, but that his duties as Head of State are non-transferable.
In other words, King Juan Carlos may not be able to attend the upcoming Ibero-American summit in Panama, and the Prince would not be able to sit in for his dad.
With the new surgery, the latest of several in recent years, talk of abdication resurfaced. The Royal Household said no such thing is being considered.
The Spanish government also said that King Juan Carlos would be able to sign important document, like Royal Decrees, from the hospital or recovery.
LOS BORBONES 