Queen Sofia and King Juan Carlos, and Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia have unveiled their Christmas cards.
This year the Royal Household did not distribute cards for Infanta Elena, Infanta Cristina, according to new protocol.
The King and Queen’s cards include a reproduction of Maarten van Heemskerck’s “The Adoration of the Shepherds,” part of the Royal Collection in El Escorial palace and monastery.
Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia put a picture of their daughters, Infanta Leonor and Infanta Sofia, on their own Christmas cards.
El País, citing a Royal Household source, said the Spanish people had largely forgiven King Juan Carlos for his controversial trip to Botswana.
But the corruption probe surrounding Infanta Cristina’s husband Iñaki Urdangarin, Duke of Palma de Mallorca, remains a problem for the Royal Family.
Pick up the latest edition of Hola magazine, if available in your neck of the world. It promises details and pictures of Queen Sofia’s recent shopping trip in London.
Queen Sofia spends a lot of time in the British capital, often visiting her brother Constantine II of Greece.
Many Spanish nobles, particularly those bearing one of the highest titles in the Kingdom — that of “Grandee” — are constantly fighting each other in court and in the press over the privilege to hold such title.
Newspaper El País recently highlighted several ongoing controversies over who is the rightful bearer of certain hereditary titles. King Juan Carlos only rarely grants titles of nobility, which are regulated by the Constitution, making them more coveted.
Heraldic crown of Spanish Grandees.
Lola Galán noted that Spanish peers no longer have certain special privileges like carrying diplomatic passports or serving in an upper house of parliament.
At least they get to be called “cousin” by the King.
The Royal Household has never asked Infanta Cristina to renounce her role within the Royal Family or to divorce her husband Iñaki Urdangarin, the Duke of Palma de Mallorca.
El País royal watcher Mábel Galaz reported that a Household spokesman had denied rumors and reports that the King’s people had made the requests to the Infanta amid her husband’s ongoing legal troubles.
Infanta Cristina’s personal standard.
Galaz reported that Infanta Cristaina recently returned from a trip to Africa. However, the Royal Household is keeping her at a distance and off the official agenda.
Doctors have given King Juan Carlos the all-clear to leave the hospital today after recovering from hip surgery, one of several in recent years. His Majesty will be less visible in the coming days because of ongoing recovery.
Meanwhile, this weekend Prince Felipe traveled to Mexico to attend the installation ceremonies for the country’s new President Enrique Peña Nieto and meet with outgoing President Felipe Calderón.
The Prince of Asturias is, by Royal Decree, Spain’s official representative at the swearings-in of Ibero-American leaders.
While in Mexico, Prince Felipe also met with local leaders and inaugurated a branch of the Fundación José Ortega y Gasset-Gregorio Marañón at Mexico’s Universidad Autónoma.
The foundation has several branches around the world. It honors well known Spanish scholars and is dedicated ti study and research in the field of humanities.
Iñaki Urdangarin, the Duke of Palma and Infanta Cristina’s husband, visited King Juan Carlos today along with other members of the Spanish Royal Family at Quirón San José Hospital in Madrid.
His Majesty was recovering from a previously scheduled hip surgery.
It was the first time, media reports indicated, since the King had met with his son-in-law since he became embroiled in a high profile corruption scandal. Infanta Cristina is said to have orchestrated the visit.
The visit also came just days after prosecutors asked a judge to approve roughly 4 million euro in bond for the Duke. They accuse him of stealing public funds along with his partner while heading the non-profit Noós Institute.
King Juan Carlos’ sisters, Infantas Pilar and Margarita, also visited him at the hospital.
Click here for video and coverage from Spanish Television.
Spanish newspaper El Pais spun the news as Telecinco “daring” to go where others may not.
The station has announced that it is producing a biopic of King Juan Carlos. Amid talks about the Crown’s popularity and Catalonian calls for independence in defiance of the King, observers are concerned about what the film may include.
A young King Juan Carlos at the White House with President Gerald Ford.
A recent Telecinco production about the courtship of Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia, a divorced television news personality, was wildly popular.
Spanish Television has also produced films featuring the Royal Family, including one about the failed 1981 coup, which the King is said to have watched and liked.
King Juan Carlos is — using his own words — going back into to the shop. Doctors will soon perform yet another hip surgery on the Monarch, who has had difficulty walking.
Don Juan Carlos went under the knife earlier this year after his fall in Botswana. This time, however, doctors will treat his left hip.
The King said he delayed the surgery to make room for this weekend’s Cádiz Summit of Ibero-American heads of state and government. His Majesty has been deeply involved in hosting the event.
“Without a doubt the Cádiz Constitution provided the seed for ideas of liberty that influence so many European and American constitutions,” the King said speaking about the short-lived but important 1812 document.
Don Juan Carlos also spoke about the economic and social progress being made by many Latin American countries in contrast with the pain in Europe.
“Our sights are on you,” he told the leaders assembled. “You have made great efforts to be where you are and we can’t but recognize it and look for shared experiences.”
The King has made wooing Latin America a pillar of his agenda to help the Spanish economy. He recently toured several countries there, and today hosted a Royal Palace lunch for Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.
His Majesty awarded President Rousseff the Collar of Isabella the Catholic, Spain’s highest honor. And he encouraged Brazilian companies to invest in Spain.
The next Ibero-American summit will be in Panama. This year’s may be the last one hosted by King Juan Carlos in Spain.
The Spanish Royal Family will be in the spotlight this week as it hosts the 22nd Ibero-American summit in the southwestern port city of Cádiz.
Today King Juan Carlos met with Dominican President Danilo Medina, the first Head of State to arrive at the gathering, which mostly consists of Spanish and Latin American leaders.
Tomorrow morning, His Majesty will meet with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Ecuatorian President Rafael Correa. Later on, he will host a lunch for outgoing Mexican President Felipe Calderón.
Then, King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia and the Prince and Princess of Asturias will attend official summit ceremonies. The Queen is also scheduled to host a meeting with first ladies during the weekend.
Queen Sofia speaking in Vienna.
Earlier this week Prince Felipe presided over a meeting of young people from Ibero-American countries. The event was meant to include youth in finding solutions to regional problems.
King Juan Carlos is hoping for a successful meeting with the goal of strengthening ties between Spain and Latin America, a key part of the country’s economic growth strategy.
LOS BORBONES 