King Meets With Former President Clinton

King Juan Carlos met with former U.S. President Bill Clinton yesterday as Zarzuela Palace.

Clinton, who has met with Don Juan Carlos many times before, was in Madrid for the Laureate Summit on Youth and Jobs.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Clinton also met with Prince Felipe, while both attended the summit at Madrid’s European University.

His Royal Highness said, “Governments and public institutions have the responsibility to create policies that favor stable job creation.”

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Prince Felipe and President Clinton at the summit.

Don Felipe added, “Universities and educational centers must mold youth so they have the skills necessary to get jobs, and companies should offer opportunities for professional growth.”

The Language of Crisis

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.”

Princess Letizia during her chat. © Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos
Princess Letizia during her chat.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

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.
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.
Queen Sofia at the Royal Theater in Madrid this week.
Infanta Elena at Valencia's Cavalry Armory.
Infanta Elena at Valencia’s Cavalry Armory.

Infanta Cristina No Longer Under Subpoena

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.

Prince Felipe in Seville today. © Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos
Prince Felipe in Seville.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Today Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia visited a gallery and port facility in Seville.

Princess Letizia in Seville.
Princess Letizia in Seville.

King Boosts Focus On Economy

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. Guinea Ecuatorial, Agapito Mba Mokuy
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, Princess Attend ‘Coronation’

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.

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Princess Letizia wore one of the family’s tiara’s for a dinner last night.

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King Juan Carlos also continues increasing his public appearances. A few days ago he met at Zarzuela Palace with Jordan’s King Abdullah.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

 

King Juan Carlos Is Back

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.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia hosted a dinner in Caballero’s honor and presented him with the award yesterday.

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Yesterday King Juan Carlos met with Robert Fico, the Prime Minister of Slovakia.

Controversy Continues

Amid the ongoing corruption controversy surrounding his son-in-law, the King has agreed to even more transparency of Royal Household spending.

Don Juan Carlos will also provide details about his inheritance.

Prince Felipe Skipping Venezuelan Inauguration

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 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.

Crowd For Prince Felipe In Catalonia; Princess Letizia In Geneva

A crowd welcomed Prince Felipe in Catalonia last week, when he visited hydro electrical facilities in the shadow of the Pyrenees mountains.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

News outlets also noted a crowd of anti Monarchist, pro-Catalonian protesters.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Also last week, Princess Letizia visited the World Health Organization in Geneva to learn more about the organization and its goals.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

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.

Queen Sofia Back In Africa

Queen Sofia arrived in Mozambique yesterday for her 6th cooperation trip to Africa.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

She brought with her medical and nutrition supplies donated in part by the Queen Sofia Foundation.

Her Majesty is also set to visit projects funded by the Spanish international cooperation and development agency.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Queen Sofia is scheduled to meet with Spanish residents in Mozambique and stay in the country until Thursday.