King Felipe met briefly with Pope Francis earlier this month during an awards ceremony at Vatican City.

The pontiff was receiving an award for promoting European unity. And Don Felipe got the chance to meet with several of the continent’s leaders, including German President Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Mateo Renzi.

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia were together again this week for the 70th birthday celebration of Swedish King Carl Gustaf.

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia are known to be a distant couple, but they are sometimes together at family events or gatherings involving European royals.

News outlets recently confirmed Her Majesty had a private lunch with British Queen Elizabeth II.

The magazine Hola also recently featured Don Juan Carlos and Infanta Elena presiding over a bullfight in Seville. Both are among the royals most attached to Spanish traditions.

 

King Felipe set Spain on track for new national elections unless parties are able to come up with a governing compromise.

After a new round of consultations with party leaders, His Majesty decided against putting forth a new candidate for prime minister.

Today the King took his daughter, the Princess of Asturias, to a soccer match. It signals the Royal Household’s effort to put the heir to the throne closer to the public eye.

Separately, Queen Sofia visited an iconographic exposition in Zamora, where she met with leaders and residents.

King Felipe called for business and political leaders to keep their focus on growth, wealth creation and employment.

In recent days Don Felipe spoke to business leaders in Madrid, evidence that his duties despite the ongoing political impasse.

“The growth of the Spanish economy could not be understood without the great collective effort of all Spaniards,” said the King, highlighting national unity.

His Majesty continued: “I ask you to continue working in that direction, creating an environment favorable for the economy and business. Despite economic improvements, we still have plenty of work to do.”

King Felipe late last week met with Congress President Patxi López as parties prepare for new elections.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia over the weekend presided over the Cervantes award for literature in Spanish at the University of Alcalá de Henares.

Queen Letizia also recently spoke at a gathering for combating rare diseaseas, one of her passions. And King Felipe held an audience with Prince Albert of Monaco at Zarzuela Palace.

Along the same lines, Queen Sofia met with British Prince Andrew at a gala to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the British-Spanish Society.

The ongoing political impasse in Spain is limiting the King and Queen’s official agenda.

With parties unable to form a government, Their Majesties are limited on what they can do.

Several trips have been put off, and Spanish media reported that U.S. President Barack Obama put off a trip to the country because of the uncertainty.

Still, King Felipe and Queen Letizia have presided over numerous events in recent weeks, and received dozens of people are Zarzuela Palace.

The King also recently attended the final game of the King’s Cup for rugby, as seen above.

Their Majesties also made a stop at the University of Salamanca earlier this month.

Below is an image of Queen Letizia greeting the crowds gathered outside the prestigious institution

Spanish authorities and Infanta Cristina’s lawyers are revealing a blackmail scheme against the King’s sister.

Authorities are accusing an anti-corruption advocate of asking the Infanta for money in exchange for dropping complaints against her.

Infanta Cristina and her husband, Iñaki Urdangarin, are under indictment on corruption charges. Prosecutors say he used a non-profit group to enrich himself.

The Infanta says she is innocent and is confident of acquittal. Still, her brother stripper her of her title as Duchess of Palma de Mallorca.

More recently, Barcelona leaders revoked a golden medal from the city. The took the same action against former Catalan President Jordi Pujol.

A global scandal involving the release of millions of documents from Panamanian firm Mossack Fonseca is spilling on the Spanish Royal Family.

The company is said to provide wealthy individuals and companies with ways to hide their money abroad.

Among the firms clients was Spain’s Infanta Pilar, Duchess of Badajoz, King Juan Carlos’ sister and King Felipe’s aunt.

The Royal Household has washed its hands of the situation because Infanta Pilar is not a member of the Royal Family, according to media outlets.

The duchess is said to have cut ties with Mossack Fonseca years ago amid widespread opposition to politician with offshore accounts. Tax authorities are investigating.

Pay raise

Separately, in recent days media outlets reported that members of the Royal Family were getting a 1 percent pay raise, along with other public workers.

King Felipe will make $267,621, Queen Letizia $147,183, King Juan Carlos $214,089 and Queen Sofia $120,438.

The Royal Household’s budget is staying steady at close to $9 million. However, critics say the country spends much more on the Royal Family.

Media outlets have also been reporting on gifts to the King and Queen, including a jigsaw puzzle of President Obama’s dogs.

Spain’s Royal Family marked Good Friday and celebrated Easter according to tradition.

King Felipe, Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor, Infanta Sofia and Queen Sofia attended mass at the Cathedral in Palma de Mallorca on Sunday.

A man caught a candid picture of Queen Sofia and her sister Princess Irene watching a Good Friday procession in Palma. He posted it on Facebook.

The magazine Hola also published pictures of Infanta Elena, King Felipe’s sister, and Infanta Pilar, King Juan Carlos’ sister and Duchess of Badajoz.

They were at the Royal Palace in Madrid along with Infanta Pilar’s daughter, Simoneta Gómez-Acebo y de Borbón.