The Spanish Royal Household released the Christmas cards from King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, and Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia.

The King and Queen’s card features an image of Bassano’s “Adoration of the Pastors,” part of the Royal Collection at El Prado National Museum in Madrid.

Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Asturias sent out a family picture. In the backdrop is a 1600’s portrait of Infanta Margarita.

In recent weeks, the Royal Household also released a website for children to learn more about the Royal Family.

Infanta Elena, the King’s eldest daughter, expressed concern this month by people’s skepticism with public institutions, including the Spanish Crown.

“I am disquieted by the distance people are feeling with institutions,” Her Royal Highness told the Spanish EFE news agency during a rare interview this month to mark her 50th birthday.

Infanta Elena, who is divorced, said she is always willing to represent the King, her father, and Spain at home and abroad.

Infanta Elena said her father taught his children a culture of effort. Her mother, the Queen, taught them tolerance, respect and concern.

The Spanish princess, who manages cultural and social projects for the foundation associated with insurance company MAPFRE SA, would not talk about her brother-in-law’s corruption investigation or talk of her father’s abdication.

She said her own children are more of their generation, focusing on homework and getting ahead.

Click here to read the interview (in Spanish).

King Juan Carlos has always had a healthy sense of humor.

Now, according to recent news reports, his new surgeon, Dr. Cabanela, revealed that His Majesty pretended to fall as a practical joke to health aides.

Cabanela also said the King tried to reach him at home but spoke to his wife instead. Cabanela said his wife was startled by the telephonic encounter.

“I think the King has called you and I thought it was a joke,” Cabanela’s wife supposedly said, “and I was about to tell him I was the Queen!”

The King recently had his second scheduled operation and is now in recovery.

Meanwhile, Queen Sofia yesterday attended a Christmas concert at the Teatro Real in Madrid.

Media reports indicate the Queen is now in Geneva for the birthday of one of Infanta Cristina’s children.

Prince Felipe showed off his knowledge of French recently during Madrid’s attempt to host the Olympics in 2020.

Last week he whipped out his Portuguese in a video to address a Spanish-Brazilian business forum.

Prince Felipe was scheduled to travel to Brazil for the meeting but problems with his Spanish Air Force airplane forced him to cancel.

Spanish newspaper El País recently debuted a site in Portuguese for Brazilian audiences.

Also last week, His Royal Highness participated in a military training exercise in Zaragoza.

While he was there, his mother, Queen Sofia, visited pandas at the Madrid Zoo.

Her Majesty is known for a keen interest in animals and has been photographed with pandas before.

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.