Tag: King Juan Carlos

Pay Cut for King, Prince

King Juan Carlos has decided to cut his own salary by 7.1 percent to conform with the latest austerity measures announced by the Spanish government.

Prince Felipe and the head of the Royal Household will also see a cut, as will other members of the Royal Family, according to various media outlets.

King meets with Socialist leader Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Also, in a change of events, Infanta Cristina and her children will join Infanta Elena and Queen Sofia on vacation at Marivent Palace in Palma De Mallorca. Media reports have indicated that the Queen wanted the family together for at least part of the summer.

Infanta Cristina’s husband, Duke of Palma Iñaki Urdangarin, who is under investigation for corruption allegations, is not expected to attend. The Royal Family has been keeping him at a distance.

The Royal Household announced that King Juan Carlos will meet with Balearic officials and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy during his own visit to Marivent Palace. Media reports also indicate that Queen Sofia will attend the opening of the London Olympics by herself.

Prince Felipe will be on hand for the awards ceremony of the annual King’s Cup regatta in Mallorca. He will also preside over a meeting of foreign ministers at Almudaina Palace, also in Mallorca, to discuss the future of Europe.

King Juan Carlos meeting with King’s Cup organizers at Zarzuela Palace last week.

Tomorrow King Juan Carlos leaves for a trip to Russia.

Click here for more from El Pais.

Click here for more from Hola.

King Convenes Ministers Amid Economic Crisis

King Juan Carlos called upon government ministers, including Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, to inform him about the economic situation and crisis measures.

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

During the meeting, the King said Spain was “a mature society that knows how to respond with responsibility, solidarity, maturity and a spirit of sacrifice to pressing circumstances.”

He expressed his concern for disappointed young people looking for work and said economic recovery must spare nobody. He added that Spain “does not lack experience nor examples of resilience.”

King Juan Carlos greets government Vice President Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría.

The King has convened the Council of Ministers a dozen times since the 1978 constitution, the Royal Household said.

King, Queen Host Events Together

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia hosted events together this week. The media, especially international outlets, have talked about possible troubles in their relationship. And the busy agenda has kept them apart in recent days, at least in public.

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

Today Their Majesties received leaders and students of United World Colleges, a global organization designed to promote peace and understanding through multicultural education.

The King and Queen are high patrons of the foundation in Spain. They were joined by the head of the Spanish chapter of the foundation, the King’s cousin, His Royal Highness Infante Don Carlos de Borbón-Dos Sicilias.

Earlier this week, Their Majesties met with participants of this year’s Ruta Quetzal. Sponsored by Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, the program takes outstanding young people from several countries on an expedition.

El Pardo Palace.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

WWF To Decide King’s Fate

Leaders of the Spanish branch of the World Wildlife Fund is meeting later this month to decide whether to keep King Juan Carlos as honorary president of the organization, according to local media reports.

The July 21 meeting comes as a result of His Majesty’s elephant hunting trip earlier this year. Critics have said the King’s love of hunting is incompatible with the WWF’s mission.

The Royal Household said the King will respect whatever leaders decide.

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth’s husband, is WWF’s President Emeritus.

Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia at a military ceremony in Talarn today.

 

 

Busy Week For King Juan Carlos

King Juan Carlos has been busy this week while his wife, Queen Sofia, tours the Philippines. His Majesty has been walking slowly but insisting on keeping a full and active agenda.

Don Juan Carlos in uniform with Defense Minister Pedro Morenés.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Today Don Juan Carlos handed out Royal Dispatches to graduates of the Air Force Academy in Murcia. The King has always been close with the military. Not only is he Commander in Chief of the Spanish armed forces, but he also served in all branches during his education during the Franco years.

Meeting at Zarzuela Palace.

This week King Juan Carlos met with U.S. Navy Admiral James G. Stavridis, who currently serves as head of U.S. forces in Europe and NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.

Zarzuela Palace also was host to Dominican Republic President Leonel Antonio Fernández and his wife, Vice President-elect Margarita Cedeño de Fernández.

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

In August, Prince Felipe will visit the Dominican Republic to assist the inauguration of President-elect Danilo Medina. It’s part of the Monarchy’s effort to retain close relations with Latin American countries.

Prince, Princess Show Commitment to Youth

Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia yesterday presided over the third Impulsa Forum, hosted by the Prince of Girona Foundation.

Prince Felipe speaking at the forum.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Don Felipe spoke about the problem of high dropout rates and the crisis youth unemployment. The foundation’s mission is geared toward youth empowerment and solving social problems.

Prince Felipe is not only Prince of Asturias, the heir to the Spanish throne, but also Prince of Girona, the customary heir to the throne of Aragon, which includes modern day Catalonia.

The Prince of Girona Foundation is an entity for good but also a vehicle of increasing Don Felipe’s profile in Catalonia, which tends to have a more republican tilt.

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

Prince and Princess Letizia participated in networking events, enjoyed youth performances and visited a Scratch Workshop, which follows a method developed at MIT to promote creative thinking.

The magazine Hola, which tracks the Royal Family, noted the commitment by the Prince and Princess to youth empowerment.

Business award to Javier Agüera, principal at GeeksPhone.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Their Royal Highnesses also gave out awards to young people who have made a difference in various spheres of Spanish society, including the arts and business.

Award to Edgar Vinyals Roja for his work on behalf of people with mental disabilities.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Also this week, Infanta Elana presided over a meeting of Spain’s Paralympic Committee. One of the topics, of course, was the upcoming London games, the Royal Household said.

Infanta Elena at the head table.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Plus, King Juan Carlos awarded 127 diplomas to military officers for training to serve in international and cooperation posts, including the NATO alliance.

King Juan Carlos with military officers.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Royal Whirlwind, Prince In New York, King Near Gibraltar

Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia arrived in the U.S. yesterday and visited IESE Business School’s campus in New York today.

Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Like his father, Prince Felipe spoke about Spain’s ongoing economic troubles. He touted recent reforms and called for “more Europe” to solve the continental crisis. He said the monetary union was “weak” and suggested the need for a stronger pact.

Their Royal Highnesses participated in a business colloquium and met with students on campus. IESE is an outpost of the University of Navarra and the first European business school to set up a permanent facility in New York.

The Prince and Princess of Asturias are also scheduled to visit Harvard University this week.

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

Just yesterday, Prince Felipe was in Morocco. He met with Prince Moulay Rachid and business leaders from both countries.

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

Meanwhile, King Juan Carlos visited Civil Guard facilities near Gibraltar, as scheduled.

Some critics in that British outpost are calling to Monarch’s visit as a hostile act. Fishermen wanting access to disputed waters are calling on the King to intervene on their behalf. Spanish forces have already escorted them on fishing trips.

Queen Sofia is holding down the fort in Madrid. She presided over a meeting of the Royal Patronage for Disabilities and assisted an event organized by the Indian Embassy. She went with her sister Princess Irene.

Queen Sofia with the Indian ambassador to Spain.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

King Juan Carlos Meets With Saudi Royals

King Juan Carlos met today with Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud to express his condolences for the recent death of Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz.

King Juan Carlos and King Abdullah
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Don Juan Carlos also met with the new Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. He’s Minister of Defense and was in Madrid earlier this month.

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

Meanwhile, Prince Felipe presided over the 200th anniversary of the Supreme Court, which was created by the Cádiz Cortes as a result of the Cádiz Constitution.

 

Ambassadors Present Credentials at Royal Palace

Today King Juan Carlos welcomed several new ambassadors to the Kingdom of Spain at the Royal Palace in Madrid.

King Juan Carlos with the Panamanian ambassador.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

His Majesty received credentials from Roberto Eduardo Arango of Panama, Bakyt Dyussenbayev of Kazakhstan, Paulo Da Silva of Guinea-Bissau, Emmanuelle Restelli of San Marino and Russia’s Yuri P. Korchagin.

“Austerity Alone Will Not Save Europe”

King Juan Carlos is once again sounding off on the troubles in Europe and the extremely delicate Spanish economy.

In a visit to Chile yesterday, His Majesty said the problems in Europe are not economic but political. He talked about the robust nature of the continent’s finances compared to other places.

“Europe requires austerity and discipline,” he said. “But austerity alone will not save Europe.”

The King talked about the “unprecedented” reforms that the Spanish government has implemented in recent months. He said his country was starting to regain its competitiveness.

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

Don Juan Carlos met with Chilean President Sebastián Piñera. Like in Brazil, he took a swipe at Argentina by highlighting Chile’s commitment to the rule of law. Argentina recently expropriated a local branch of Spanish oil giant Repsol.

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

His Majesty today met with the leaders of Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Panama and Costa Rica. Media outlets are saying the King is back as Spain’s top champion.

“I am not at all tired,” he said, according to Spanish media.

Prince and Princess of Asturias at event in Navarre.

Other members of the Royal Family, including Price Felipe and Princess Letizia, have been “holding down the fort” taking care of public events in Spain while the King is away.