King Juan Carlos of Spain (83) has been in voluntary exile in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates since the beginning of August 2020.
Last week it was 45 years since he was sworn in and became King of Spain after the death of General Franco. An important anniversary for the monarchy and the birth of Spanish democracy, which was certainly mentioned in the press but was magnificently snubbed by the royal family.
In this delicate period of the pandemic, with all its economic implications, Felipe and Letizia from Spain have decided to behave with great restraint. As of this summer, the Queen never wears a new outfit again, preferring instead to reach into her wardrobe as a sign of her severity.
Although Juan Carlos has settled far from Zarzuela Palace, where he dreams of returning one day, Juan Carlos is trying to adjust to his new life. It is said that he devotes himself to intensive reading of Spanish daily newspapers, sports and calls his friends. He continues to speak very regularly with his wife, Queen Sophie, although their paths have diverged for many years.
On the other hand, no information as to what connections he would maintain with his three children.
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Last Sunday, on the exact 45th anniversary of the swearing-in, her eldest daughter, Infanta Elena, was spotted at Dubai airport – a neighboring emirate where you can land without quarantine – to catch a plane to Madrid. The Infanta visited her father for a few days. It is not known whether there were other stays.
Juan Carlos has always been very close to his daughters Elena and Cristina. After the latter endured the horrors of a trial that landed her husband Inaki Urdangarin in prison (he is still serving his sentence), the former monarch became very close to Elena and their children Felipe and Victoria de Marichalar, who are likely his grandchildren are he was with had the most contact.
After his abdication, he and Elena (divorced for 10 years) liked to go sailing in Galicia, to the bullring and, above all, to eat together in gourmet restaurants.
Exiled against her will from the royal family, which is refocused on the current rulers, her two daughters and Queen Sophie (whose agenda is limited), Elena enjoys great popularity in Spain. His compatriots have always appreciated his simplicity and his Hispanic personality, who, at football team meetings, did not hesitate to parade his car, banners in the wind, in the center of Madrid.
Always available for the Crown, as she has often emphasized, the Infanta remained her father’s most loyal support. However, this escapade to the Emirates, as far as it was mentioned in the Spanish press, did not arouse the slightest criticism, quite the contrary.