Soon the King and Suárez, who later became a Duke, called elections and began liberalizing Spanish politics. The rest is history.
Today the King called the transition a “chapter that gave way to the period of great economic, social and political process.”
Updates
On Monday King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia and Infanta Elena met with various current and former Spanish leaders at the Congress building to remember Suárez.
His Majesty, after swift approval by the government, granted Suárez the collar of the Royal Order of Charles III. He was already a member of the Order of the Golden Fleece.
Infanta Cristina, King Juan Carlos’ youngest daughter, testified yesterday for several hours before a Balearic Islands judge in connection with her husband’s corruption investigation.
Infanta Cristina, according to media reports, said she trusted her husband and also appeared to vouch for his innocence.
Infanta Cristina, Duchess of Palma. Photo courtesy Organization of American States via Flickr.
Anti-corruption investigators believe the the infanta’s husband, Iñaki Urdangarin, used a sports related foundation to funnel public funds for personal use.
Even though prosecutors did not want to involve the King’s daughter in the formal investigation, Judge José Castro called her to testify over whether she had any knowledge or played a part in any crimes.
About 200 agents were at the courthouse for security, said media reports. There were also numerous supporters and anti-monarchy protesters. She smiled and greeted the crowd.
Officials allowed Infanta Cristina’s drivers to drop her off near the courthouse door but they denied any special treatment.
King Juan Carlos was hoping for this year to be better than the last. But the first week of 2014 is already giving him major headaches.
His Majesty made his first public Monday appearance outside his home, Zarzuela Palace, since his last hip surgery for the annual “Pascua Militar” event at the Royal Palace.
However, Don Juan Carlos still had trouble walking, relied on crutches and fumbled through parts of his speech.
The King’s physical weakness has led some officials to press him to consider abdication. He has declined to do so.
The Royal Household instead highlighted the austerity surrounding the ceremonies and said the King, who blamed low light in the palace’s Throne Room, was just as disappointed in himself.
But then came news that Judge José Castro had decided to subpoena the King’s daughter, Infanta Cristina, in the corruption investigation involving her husband, Iñaki Urdangarin.
An appeals court had thrown out a previous call for the Infanta to testify. The prosecutor in the case has expressed disagreement with involving her.
Still, she is due to appear in a Palma de Mallorca courtroom in March, according to various news sources.
Royal Household chief Rafael Spottorno has called for a swift resolution of the investigation. The King has said he respects judicial decisions.
King Juan Carlos and Prince Felipe meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida at Zarzuela Palace today.
While the Royal Household is looking to recover its eroded popularity — which it surveys regularly — this week’s events has led to more bad press.
The ongoing tough economy plus the loud calls for independence from at least some sectors of Catalan society are also a concern.
Media outlets reported that protestors jeered Queen Sofia and a number of public officials during a public event in Madrid this evening.
It seems that King Juan Carlos is fond of texting public officials in a jovial manner.
Joan Mesquida, former director general of the Spanish Civil Guard and former tourism chief, got a text from the King during a recent radio broadcast, according to El País.
So Mesquida went on the explain that the King not only texts, but is also quick to pick up the phone or return phone calls.
Don Juan Carlos is still recovering from his recent operation.
Other members of the Royal Family, meanwhile, have remained active.
Queen Sofia today visited a food bank in Palma de Mallorca in the Balearic Islands where she proposed collecting items from the increasing number of cruise ships that dock.
King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia immediately deployed this week to the Santiago de Compostela area in the Galicia region to comfort victims of the high speed train derailment, which killed dozens of people.
King Juan Carlos and his family have a number of Royal Palaces, sites and homes at their disposition.
In practice, however, they only use a fraction of them on a regular basis, and mostly for official occasions. Below is a non-exhaustive list:
Photo by Manuel Quinones.
The Madrid Royal Palace, above, is the King’s official residence and site for the most important state gatherings.
It has a large dining room, numerous works of art, an armory with historic weapons belonging to members of the Royal Family, and the official Throne Room.
Royal Site of San Lorenzo del Escorial.
The Royal Site of San Lorenzo del Escorial is a large palace and monastery in the Madrid region, which includes a tapestry museum, a library, a basilica and the official burial place for members of the Spanish Royal Family.
On the grounds is a small house called La Casita del Principe for the Prince of Asturias, the heir to the Spanish throne.
Nearby is the Valley of the Fallen, resting place for former Dictator Francisco Franco.
Prince Felipe and his wife Princess Letizia, however, currently live in a newly built small palace often called the Prince’s Pavilion, pictured below.
The Prince’s house is a short drive from Zarzuela Palace, where King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia have lived for several decades.
Former Franco rehabilitated Zarzuela, an old royal hunting lodge, for the young couple. They moved in in shortly after their wedding in Athens, when their future as heirs to the Spanish throne was still uncertain.
Welcoming guests at Zarzuela Palace.
The King and other members of the Royal Family often receive informal visits at Zarzuela, which is equipped with communications capabilities and contains Royal Household offices in support of the Monarch as the Head of State.
The King’s dispatch is at Zarzuela with his official Royal Standard flying above. Queen Sofia’s sister, Princess Irene of Greece, also lives on the site.
The Zarzuela Palace, also outside of central Madrid, is in the grounds of El Pardo Palace, pictured above. Franco used to live at El Pardo, which now includes reception rooms and apartments for guests.
Most Royal Palaces and sites, which include monasteries and gardens, are owned by the state and run by Patrimonio Nacional or National Heritage.
Also in the Madrid region, but to the south, is the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, pictured below.
Several Royal sites are located in the Segovia area, north of Madrid.
The Gardens of La Granja de San Idelfonso, above, extend more then 1,000 acres. The Riofrio Palace, below, was built for Queen Elisabeth Farnese in the 1700’s but has generally been barely used.
Also in Segovia is the Alcazar de Segovia, which was used by Queen Isabella of Castile. It is run by a patronage and one of several castles that were once royal homes are now museums.
The King’s official residence in Barcelona is owned by the local government. The same goes for the Royal Family’s summer residence in the Balearic Islands, Marivent Palace in Palma de Mallorca.
Price Naruhito, the heir to the Japanese Imperial Throne, met with Prince Felipe of Asturias today at El Pardo Palace in Madrid for a visit to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Hispano-Japanese relations.
Members of the Spanish Royal Family and members of the Japanese Imperial Family have traveled to each other’s country over the years.
King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia went on a state visit to Japan in 2008, for example. And Prince Naruhito went to Barcelona for the Olympics and to Madrid for Prince Felipe’s wedding to Princess Letizia in 2004.
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.
Princess Letizia wore one of the family’s tiara’s for a dinner last night.
King Juan Carlos also continues increasing his public appearances. A few days ago he met at Zarzuela Palace with Jordan’s King Abdullah.
LOS BORBONES 