Royals Visible In Mallorca

Members of the Spanish Royal Family have been extremely visible during their vacations in Mallorca.

The goal is to defuse all the talk of controversy surrounding King Juan Carlos, and also move past the recent public tension between Queen Letizia and Queen Sofia.

Earlier this week, King Felipe and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez met at Marivent Palace in Palma de Mallorca, and later Queen Letizia and Sánchez’s wife María Begoña joined in for lunch.

The King also participated in the King’s Cup Regatta and awards ceremony, and held an evening gathering for local leaders at Almudaina Palace with Queen Letizia and Queen Sofia.

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Earlier this month, King Felipe, Queen Letizia and their daughters — Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia — posed for pictures at Almudaina Palace and greeted reporters.

Queen Sofia, Queen Letizia, the princess and the infanta visited walked around a market.

More family members, including Infanta Elena and Princess Irene, Queen Sofia’s sister, joined the royals for a concert.

Members of the Royal Family and other close relatives also had dinner out together, as has become tradition.

King Juan Carlos, meanwhile, remains away from official activities. He missed the inauguration of Colombia’s new president because of health reasons, outlets reported.

The King And The Bulls

King Felipe won praise but also skepticism earlier this month when he attended a charity bullfight in Madrid.

Aside from people who oppose the activity, aficionados wondered whether the King — who got a standing ovation — really stands with them.

rey_corrida_beneficencia_20170616_01 — King Felipe at the famed Las Ventas bullring in Madrid. © Casa de S.M. el Rey

Don Felipe has not been as keen on attending bullfights compared to his father, King Juan Carlos, and his sister, Infanta Elena.

Both of them were helping open a new winery in the Basque Country during the Madrid bullfight.

rey_juan_carlos_bodega_macan_20170616_07 — King Juan Carlos and Infanta Elena. © Casa de S.M. el Rey

Conventional wisdom says Queen Letizia is not partial to bullfighting. Neither is Queen Sofia, an animal rights advocate.

The late Duchess of Alba was also an animal rights advocate, but an ardent supporter of bullfighting as a Spanish tradition.

Infanta Elena Represents King At Duchess Funeral

Infanta Elena, King Felipe’s sister, was the Royal Family’s representative to the Duchess of Alba’s funeral in Seville.

Infanta Elena with the Duchess of Alba's son and widower. — Infanta Elena with the Duchess of Alba’s son and widower.

The Duchess, the woman with the most titles of nobility on Earth, died this week after health complications.

Members of the Royal Family sent their condolences immediately after her death.

The Duchess, as a Spanish Grandee, had a special status with members of the Royal Family, at least when protocol was concerned.

The King, for example, has traditionally called grandees “cousin.” The Duchess also had the privilege of entering the Seville Cathedral on horseback.

It is fitting for the Royal Household to have picked Infanta Elena to attend the funeral. She got married in Seville and is known to embrace the city’s traditions.

Royals Out For Easter

Members of the Spanish Royal family attended Easter mass yesterday at the Mallorca Cathedral in Palma de Mallorca as part of a long standing tradition.

Queen Sofia, Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia, and Infanta Elena attended the services. Also there were young Infanta Sofia and Leonor, who may one day become queen.

Infanta Elena, the Duchess of Palma, did not attend amid her husband’s corruption investigation.

The Duchess of Alba also celebrated Holy Week and her 87th birthday with a public outing. Click here for an Hola photo gallery from Seville.

Royals Host IOC Reps

Queen Sofia, Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia and Infanta Elena welcomed International Olympic Committee representatives at the Royal Palace last week.

They were hoping to impress the Evaluation Commission for Madrid’s candidacy to host the games in 2020.

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

Prince Felipe said in the Palace’s main dining hall that Madrid was not only a European City but also represented broader Ibero-American aspirations.

More than 100 guests attended the event, the Royal Household said. Infanta Pilar, the King’s sister, was also there.

Updated: Infanta Elena Goes Wild

The magazine Hola captured Infanta Elena and her cousin María Zurita y de Borbón celebrating the Spanish Euro 2012 win.

July 12 Update: This week, Hola showcased the Infanta cheering players preparing for the London Olympics.

Duke’s Father Dies

Juan María Urdangarín, father of Iñaki Urdangarín, the Duke of Palma, died Thursday at 79 in his native Basque Country. The former businessman had been ill for several months, according to media reports.

Queen Sofia and Infanta Elena will travel to Vitoria on Friday to be with the family. The Duke traveled to Spain from Washington earlier this week. Infanta Cristina, the Duchess of Palma, is also making her way to join her husband.

Update: Earlier this week, the Duchess visited the National Gallery of Art on Washington, D.C., where this blog originates. She went after-hours for a Joan Miró exhibit.

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.

20120420_almuerzo_cervantes_1 — 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.

20120419_paralimpica1 — © Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Royals Attend Easter Services

The Prince and Princess of Asturias, the King and Queen, and Infanta Elena, the Duchess of Lugo, attended Easter services at the cathedral in Palma de Mallorca.

Absent were the Duke and Duchess of Palma de Mallorca. Don Iñaki Urdangarín, Infanta Cristina’s husband, is facing corruption charges.

Click here for more pictures from Hola.