Princess Letizia of Asturias is making news from her analysis of language during Spain’s tough financial condition.
During a journalism and language conference yesterday, Her Royal Highness said, “the crisis has its own language and its utilization can be intentional.”
She continued, “It’s not the same to say help and rescue, recession for negative growth or restructuring instead of cuts.”
Members of the Spanish Royal Family has been active in looking for new economic opportunities and pressing political leaders to focus on economic growth.
Prince Felipe, during a recent summit of engineers, called on the profession to help promote economic growth.
The Royal agenda has been relatively full in recent weeks with numerous visits and receptions at Zarzuela Palace and around the country.
Queen Sofia at the Royal Theater in Madrid this week.Infanta Elena at Valencia’s Cavalry Armory.
A court in Palma de Mallorca overturned today a recent subpoena against King Juan Carlos’ daughter Infanta Cristina in connection with her husband’s corruption investigation.
Judge José Castro, investigating allegations that Duke of Palma Iñaki Urdangarin used a non-profit company to line his pockets with government contracts, subpoenaed Infanta Cristina in April.
However, prosecutors appealed his decision citing lack of evidence.
Meanwhile, other members of the Royal Family are continuing with a busy schedule in part to rehabilitate the Crown’s image.
King Juan Carlos called on political leaders to find consensus on Spain’s challenges, particularly the economy and sky-high unemployment.
His Majesty, who has been recovering from an operation, also invited television cameras into his office this month to become more visible amid sagging poll numbers.
King Juan Carlos meeting with Equatorial Guinea foreign minister.
Spain’s statistics agency found in new research that Spaniards are increasingly concerned about the role of their monarchy.
The Crown has also gone down in ranking among the country’s esteemed institutions, something that has worried government officials and led Spanish Television to air stories on the King’s role in fomenting Democracy.
Media outlets reported that Don Juan Carlos will reduce his international activities to focus on domestic issues. He said he wants to have more meetings with business and community leaders.
Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia were among many royals in the Netherlands today for the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander, after the abdication of her mother Queen Beatrix.
Like in Spain, the ceremony is technically not a coronation, as the monarch appears near the Royal Crown but doesn’t actually wear it.
Princess Letizia wore one of the family’s tiara’s for a dinner last night.
King Juan Carlos also continues increasing his public appearances. A few days ago he met at Zarzuela Palace with Jordan’s King Abdullah.
King Juan Carlos is back in public view after weeks of recovery from a back operation.
Earlier this week the King and Queen Sofia received the 2012 winner of the prestigious Cervantes Prize José Manuel Caballero Bonald at Zarzuela Palace.
Infanta Elena, the Duchess of Lugo, is in Panama this week on a humanitarian mission.
Several news outlets, including Hola have reported on the trip, which has not yet been announced by the Royal Household website.
Hola also had pictures this week of Infanta Cristina and her husband Iñaki Urdangarin, who is under investigation for corruption, watching their kids play handball.
Prince Felipe, who usually attends inauguration ceremonies for Latin American leaders, will skip the one for Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.
News reports indicate that the Spanish government wants to keep the Prince away from the ongoing controversy over the election to replace the late Hugo Chavez as President.
Prince Felipe speaking at a German-Spanish Forum, where he called for greater solidarity in solving current problems.
Prince Felipe did attend the funeral for Chavez, which had him sitting near Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Today former Madrid Community President Esperanza Aguirre attended the funeral of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Aguirre is Countess of Murillo, a Grandee of Spain and also Honorary Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
This weekend Madrid was host to an anti-Monarchy, pro-Republic demonstration. Boosters are hoping the King’s recent troubles will help overturn the country’s current political system.
Duke of Palma and King Juan Carlos’ son-in-law Iñaki Urdangarin is finalizing an arrangement that could soon take him to work for the Qatari handball team, El Paísreported today.
Investigators are pursuing a possible corruption case against Urdangarin, once an Olympic handball star, but he is under no obligation to stay in Spain while it continues.
Urdangarin and his wife, Infanta Cristina, have largely been sidelined from official royal engagements.
Infanta Cristina and her children would join Urdangarin, media reports say.
Meanwhile, El País is also reporting on the King’s plummeting poll numbers amid several controversies and his health problems, which have kept him away from public view.
His popularity has taken a hit even compared with other members of the Royal Family, like Queen Sofia or Prince Felipe, who have been making frequent appearances.
King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia.
Analysts note that young people especially are largely unaware of Don Juan Carlos’ role in bringing democracy to Spain and putting down an attempted coup in the early 1980’s.
Newspaper El Mundo has been reporting about the King’s inheritance and his friend Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein’s activities on behalf of the Spanish government, including in the Arab world.
Leftist parties are demanding more transparency from the Royal Household, which has agreed to be part of a new openness law, albeit in a limited fashion.
Spanish royals already disclose their salary, taxes and other expenses. They will now also increase disclosure on trips and meetings.
Socialists are asking for the Royal Family’s personal finances to be public, as well.
Madrid Royal Palace.
Today Spanish Government President Mariano Rajoy defended the Crown as an important part of Spanish unity. The Socialist party is also officially in favor of keeping the Crown.
UPDATE: News reports indicate that King Juan Carlos has spoken to his friend the Emir of Qatar, but about business issues and not about Urdangarin.
LOS BORBONES 