King Back to Work, Again

After two recent operations, King Juan Carlos is back at work making limited appearances.

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

Today His Majesty met with Pascual Sala, president of Spain’s Constitutional Court. Sala handed the King decisions from 2011.

Members of the FIA automobile association also visited Zarzuela Palace today to present Don Juan Carlos with a gold medal for his support of motor sports.

© Agencia EFE

While the King has other appearances planned, most of them are by other members of the Royal Family. Today Queen Sofia participated in the swearing in of 49 new members of the Royal Guard.

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

And Felipe and Letizia, Prince and Princess of Asturias, participated in the inauguration of new facilities for the National Museum of Science and Technology in A Coruña.

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

Yesterday Infanta Elana, Duchess of Lugo, was on hand at the inauguration of new equestrian facilities for the Civil Guard. The Princess has been making numerous appearances on behalf of the Royal Family recently.

Updated: No Deal for Duke…Yet

Spanish prosecutors are downplaying the possibility of a plea bargain with Iñaki Urdangarín, the Duke of Palma de Mallorca, who stands accused of diverting public funds for personal gain during his time as leader of the Noos Institute, media reports indicate.

The Duke’s main attorney is denying  that conversations over a deal have been ongoing. And Urdangarín’s former business partner, who faces similar allegations, said he has no plans to enter a guilty plea, news reports indicate.

Arms of the Duke of Palma

Prosecutors are stressing their desire to continue investigating the allegations. They say a special deal for the King’s son-in-law is not in the works.

Will Duke Admit Wrongdoing in Corruption Scandal?

King Juan Carlos’ son-in-law, Iñaki Urdangarín, the Duke of Palma, is in negotiations with prosecutors for a possible guilty plea amid a flurry of corruption allegations, El Pais and other Spanish news outlets are reporting.

In a recent deposition, Urdangarín put the blame on former associate Diego Torres. Both are accused of stealing public funds through their work with the Noos Institute, a non-profit organization.

But pointing the finger at Torres backfired, with the Duke’s former right hand man making allegations about the King’s involvement in helping with his son-in-law’s business affairs.

The King had once been seen as the one who warned Urdangarín to stay away from lucrative dealings.

Now, there is talk of Urdangarín working on a truce with Torres and negotiating with prosecutors to pay back millions of euros. While a guilty plea may hurt the monarchy, it may be less painful that a trial or jail sentence.

The corruption scandal, plus the King’s hunting trip to Botswana, has shocked people around the world who thought of the Spanish monarchy as a model for other countries with royal families.

Don Juan Carlos’ popularity, credibility and work in creating a democratic Spain gave him wide latitude to travel and get involved with politics and business. It appears that the Spanish head of state will be on a much tighter leash from now on.

Back in the Hospital

Don Juan Carlos was back in the hospital for a few hours last night for surgery on his right hip.

In an official announcement, the Royal Household said the King went to USP San José Hospital to take care of a dislocation. It happened after a sudden or “bad” movement.

The King had been healing from a hip replacement procedure. Doctors said they would continue monitoring his recovery.

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

Apparently the King was well enough today to hold his weekly meeting with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

King Makes Himself Visible

King Juan Carlos is slowly but surely returning to his duties while recovering from his recent hip replacement surgery. It also appears that the controversy over his elephant hunting trip is cooling down.

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

This week His Majesty met with the foreign minister for the United Arab Emirates, High Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at the Zarzuela Palace. The UAE is inaugurating a new embassy in Spain and the King enjoys good relations with Middle Eastern royals.

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

Don Juan Carlos also met with Víctor García de la Concha, the new director of the Cervantes Institute, a non-profit organization that promotes the study and teaching of the Spanish language.

Constitutional Crisis? Newspaper Weighs Situation

El Pais, one of Spain’s leading newspapers and often used as a source for this blog, has published several articles analyzing the Royal Family’s situation in Spain.

Many influential politicians and business leaders, the paper says several factors are affecting the Monarchy’s popularity — King Juan Carlos’ health, his recent trip to Botswana, his son-in-law facing corruption allegations, the economy, leftist movements and the fact that many young people don’t remember the the institution’s importance in establishing democracy.

One article looks at the King’s situation, another reviews Prince Felipe’s role and another reviews the Queen’s recent actions, including only spending a few minutes visiting her husband at the hospital.

King Juan Carlos takes oath. Note the not often seen
"Tumular" Crown of Spain.

Socialist leader Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba said he would have told the King not to go hunting in Africa. The comments come amid a debate over how much control the elected Government should have over the Monarch’s activities.

Still, despite other leftist comments against the Monarchy, the Socialist leadership is staying loyal.

Meanwhile, as planned, Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia stepped in for Don Juan Carlos in giving out this year’s Cervantes prize at the University of Alcalá. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was born in Alcalá in the 1500’s.

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

Royal Highnesses Step In for Majesties

The press and the Spanish public are making much of Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia presiding over the traditional lunch at the Royal Palace in Madrid yesterday to commemorate the Cervantes Prize and its winner.

While the King and Queen usually lead the event, recent events have contributed to the Prince and Princess of Asturias taking over, at least for this year.

Prince Felipe stepping in for his father
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Prince Felipe called it “special and exceptional” for their Majesties to be missing the event, but also the prize’s winner, Chilean Poet Nicanor Parra, because of delicate health.

The Cervantes award, named after the author of Don Quixote, includes a 125,000 euro check. It is among the most prestigious literary prizes in the world.

Click here for video from RTVE. Click here for a slideshow from El Pais.

Their Royal Highnesses will also preside over the award ceremony at the University of Alcalá on Monday.

Separately, it appears that Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo, is presiding over more events on behalf of the Royal Family. This week she accompanied her mother, the Queen, to the MAPFRE Foundation awards. MAPFRE is a Spanish international insurance company.

She also presided over the first Paralympic Evening in advance of the London games. Infanta Elena is the president of honor of the Spanish committee.

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

 

King Juan Carlos Apologizes for Hunting Trip

Doctors have decided to release King Juan Carlos from the hospital after his recent hip replacement surgery, the Royal Household said today. They say he is enjoying “satisfactory” recovery.

Recognizing the fallout from his huntring trip last week, His Majesty apologized for his actions.

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

The King said: “I am hoping to return to my obligations. I am very sorry. I have made a mistake and it will never happen again. Thank you for your concern.”

 

Hunting Trip Fallout Continues

The Spanish branch of the World Wildlife Fund is expressing concern and requesting a meeting with the Royal Household over King Juan Carlos’ elephant hunting trip to Africa, where he suffered a hip fracture last week.

WWF outlined its concerns in a letter released today, as politicians and Spaniards debated the King’s trip, which many see as lavish and insensitive to the county’s economic woes. WWF in Spain questions whether the King can continue as the group’s honorary president.

Juan Carlos del Olmo, the group’s secretary general, said there was an “enormous backlash” to the King’s hunting activities, even if they were legal. He said people around the world were expressing “energetic protest.”

Queen Sofia (Right) and Princess Letizia

Meanwhile, Queen Sofia visited her husband today. She said he was showing “phenomenal progress.” Doctors said he may be out of the hospital soon.

His recovery, however, means that he won’t be able to make it abroad to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s 60 years as British monarch.

Click here for Spanish Television coverage.

A Different Touch

In the chapter titled An Engaging Monarchy, John Hooper, author of The New Spaniards, provides some insight into why the Bourbon royals are different or seen as different compared to other ruling monarchies. Hooper described a memorial service after the 2004 Madrid terrorist attacks:

When the service ended, the dignitaries prepared to file out, led by the Spanish royal family. But instead of leaving the relatives alone with their grief and incomprehension, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, accompanied by their children and their children’s partners, moved from pew to pew consoling the bereaved.

They clasped the hands of the bereaved, hugged their shoulders and kissed their cheeks. The King embraced a stooped old lady, and bent down to listen to her story. The Queen wept openly. Princess Cristina too sobbed as she hugged mourners.

It is inconceivable that any of the Windsors, for example, would have put their dignity at risk in that fashion.