The Partido Popular and the Socialists have rejected calls for more cuts to the Spanish Royal Household, El País reported yesterday.
Two minority parties, including anti monarchists, say 8.26 million euros is too much money to pay for head of state operations. But Household defenders say Spain has the cheapest head of state system in Europe.
The 8.26 million euros assignment for 2012 is 2 percent less than 2011.
Many people don’t realize that His Majesty King Juan Carlos I has many titles other than “King of Spain.” As Wikipedia explains:
The constitution allows for the use of other historic titles pertaining to the Spanish monarchy, without specifying them.
A decree promulgated 6 November 1987 at the Council of Ministers regulates the titles further, and on that basis the monarch of Spain has a right to use (“may use”) those other titles appertaining to the Crown.
Contrary to some belief, the long titular that contains the list of over 20 kingdoms is not in state use, nor is it used in Spanish diplomacy.
In fact, it has never been in use in that form, as “Spain” was never a part of the list in pre-1837 era when the long list was officially used. This feudal style was last used officially in 1836, in the titulary of Isabella II of Spain before she became constitutional Queen.
Therefore, the King’s titles include King of Jerusalem, of Castile, of León, of Aragón, of the Two Sicilies, of Navarre, of Granada, of Toledo, of Valencia, of Galicia, of Majorca, of Seville, of Sardinia, of Córdoba, of Corsica, of Murcia, of Menorca, of Jaén, of Gibraltar, of the Canary Islands, of the East and West Indies, and of the Islands and Mainland of the Ocean Sea.
Also, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, of Brabant, of Milan, of New Patras, Count of Habsburg, of Flanders, of Tyrol, of Roussillon and of Barcelona.
Plus, Lord of Biscay and of Molina.
It is important to remember that modern Spain is a combination of several Kingdoms. Plus, the Spanish Monarch has at different times in history controlled land and interests well beyond the Iberian Peninsula. The King of Spain was once also Holy Roman Emperor.
However, it is the Duchess of Alba who has the most aristocratic titles. Media reports indicate that Cayetana Fitz-James has 44 noble titles and 150 hereditary ones.
Queen Sofia has cancelled a planned trip to London on Friday because of tensions between the Spanish and British governments over the disputed colony of Gibraltar, media reports indicate.
Specifically, the Spanish government has expressed displeasure over British Prince Edward’s visit to Gibraltar to mark Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee. Queen Sofia’s visit to England was also connected to the celebrations.
Both Queen Sofia and King Juan Carlos have family and friendship ties to Queen Elizabeth. Also, Queen Sofia’s brother, former Greek King Constantine, is Prince William’s Godfather.
King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia marked their 50th wedding anniversary at home today with their daughters, Infanta Elena and Infanta Cristina.
Juan Carlos, then Prince of Spain, and Princess Sofia of Greece and Denmark, daughter of the Hellenic Monarchs, married in Athens on May 14, 1962. They went through Catholic and Orthodox ceremonies to appease religious and political leaders in each country.
Contrary to tradition, Juan Carlos was formally called Prince of Spain and not Prince of Asturias. That’s because by calling him the latter, dictator Francisco Franco would have legitimized Juan Carlos’ father as rightful King of Spain. Don Juan de Borbón y Battenberg was living in exile in Portugal.
The wedding, which some critics compare to a “contract,” was important for both royal houses. Greek Queen Frederica of Hanover wanted her daughter Sofia to find a prince that could make her queen someday. At the same time, Prince Juan Carlos needed someone who could help him restore Spain’s monarchy.
Historians consider the union, and Queen Frederica’s counsel, essential to helping Juan Carlos succeed General Franco as Spanish head of state. Even though Franco had been grooming the Prince for years, nobody knew if Juan Carlos would actually manage to become King.
Franco, who spied on the young couple living at the Zarzuela Palace near the Generalissimo’s own residence of El Pardo Palace, wanted to make sure Juan Carlos would continue his nationalist movement. At the same time, the world’s leaders were wary of the young prince’s commitment to Democracy. And his father in Portugal wanted to become king himself.
Spanish Television aired this mini-documentary on the wedding, which was produced in 2002 for the King and Queen’s 40th wedding anniversary.
After two recent operations, King Juan Carlos is back at work making limited appearances.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Apparently the King was well enough today to hold his weekly meeting with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
LOS BORBONES 