Disgraced ex King Juan Carlos of Spain attends his granddaughter Princess Leonor’s 18th birthday party after returning from Dubai – as Queen Letizia drives her younger daughter to the celebrations
- Queen Letizia and Infanta Sofia are spotted leaving Princess Leonor’s 18th
- READ MORE: Princess Leonor swears loyalty to the constitution on her birthday
Spain’s disgraced former King broke cover last night as he attended his granddaughter Princess Leonor’s 18th birthday dinner in Madrid.
The former monarch, 85, and his wife Queen Sofia, 84, were noticeably absent from Leonor’s historic swearing in ceremony earlier in the day.
The teenager swore allegiance to the Spanish Constitution, meaning that she can now officially act as regent in the absence of her father King Felipe.
According to Spanish newspaper El Pais, the former King and Queen were asked not to attend the historic occasion at the Lower Houses ‘so as not to make distinctions’ with the controversy surrounding the end of their reign.
Spanish media reports that Juan Carlos, who now lives in the UAE, returned to Madrid for just seven hours.
Princess Sofia, 16, appeared in great spirits as she beamed in the passenger seat next to her mother Queen Letizia after her sister’s 18th birthday dinner on Tuesday
Juan Carlos was once one of Spain’s most respected public figures for his role in the country’s return to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975.
But scandals involving Spain’s royal family began to mount in the later years of his reign, leading him to step down in favour of his son, King Felipe.
Earlier this month, he won a bid to end a £126million High Court battle with his Danish ex-lover who accused him of spying on and harassing her.
Danish businesswoman Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, who is in her late 50s, claimed the former royal had caused her ‘great mental pain’.
Following their break-up, Corinna claims the former monarch harassed her into returning €65 million [£56m] that he had transferred into her bank account in 2012.
This sum was a key aspect of the corruption case brought against the ex-King, which led to him fleeing to Abu Dhabi in 2020.
Juan Carlos has denied wrongdoing and disputed the claims made against him, arguing they are not ‘viable’.
After reuniting with her grandparents, Princess Sofia appeared in great spirits as she beamed in the passenger seat next to her mother Queen Letizia after her sister’s big bash.
King Juan Carlos of Spain (left) arrived with wife Sofia to Princess Leonor’s 18th birthday dinner on Tuesday evening
Spanish media reports that Juan Carlos, who now lives in Abu Dhabi, returned to Madrid for just seven hours
Spain’s King Felipe seen arriving at his daughter’s 18th birthday party in Madrid last night – which was also attended by his disgraced father
King Felipe IV, Queen Letizia and their daughters Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia arriving at the Palacio del Pardo
Pictured: King Juan Carlos with his ex-mistress Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein in February 2006. The former King won a bid to end a £126million High Court battle with his Danish ex-lover who accused him of spying on and harassing her
Juan Carlos abdicated in 2014 and handed over the throne to his son King Felipe amid a money-laundering scandal. King Felipe VI of Spain (second left), his wife Queen Letizia (far left), their daughters Princess Sofia (front left) and Princess Leonor (front right), former King Juan Carlos I (second right) and his wife former Queen Sofia (right) pose before attending the traditional Easter Sunday Mass of Resurrection in Palma de Mallorca on April 1, 2018
READ MORE: Inside the scandalous life of exiled former King of Spain Juan Carlos I: From bedding ‘2,000 women’, trying to ‘woo’ Princess Diana and THAT dig at King Charles
Others royals also ascended on the lavish dinner including Carlos Morales and his daughters Arrieta and Ana Maria of Greece.
While Prince Pedro of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, the Duke of Calabria, was also spotted with his family.
Elsewhere Miriam Ungría and her son Boris of Bulgaria looked stylish as they were spotted leaving the bash.
Earlier this week, Queen Sofia broke down in tears during a Madrid engagement – as reports began to swirl about whether she would be attending her granddaughter’s historic swearing in ceremony.
Disgraced former king Juan Carlos, who is still married to his wife Sofia despite his numerous extra-marital affairs, has been accused of making a pass at Princess Diana when she was just 25 during a holiday she and the then-Prince Charles spent in Majorca in 1986.
Spanish royal expert Pilar Eyre made the claim in a 2012 book.
Diana herself denied anything untoward had happened but admitted that while the libidinous former king was ‘charming’ he could be a ‘little too attentive.’
A 2017 book by Spanish society writer Amadeo Martinez Ingles dubbed Juan Carlos a sex addict and claimed he bedded almost 5,000 women.
It was a big day for Princess Leonor yesterday as she officially became Spain’s future Queen.
Stepping on to the stage at the House of Parliament in Madrid, Princess Leonor looked calm and composed despite the historic weight of the moment.
Yesterday on her 18th birthday, the teenager swore allegiance to the Spanish Constitution.
When she ascends the throne, Leonor will be Spain’s first queen regent in for 150 years, but even more significantly she is viewed as a figure who will complete her father’s work of distancing himself from the scandal that engulfed her grandfather, King Juan Carlos.
Others royals also ascended on the lavish dinner including Carlos Morales and his daughters Arrieta and Ana Maria of Greece
Elsewhere Miriam Ungría and her son Boris of Bulgaria looked stylish as they were spotted leaving the bash
King Juan Carlos accompanied by Queen Sofia and Irene of Greece arrive at the Palacio del Pardo
It’s a lot of expectation for any young woman to contend with, but Princess Leonor betrayed only the slightest hint of nerves in a touching moment where she appeared to glance to her mother Queen Letizia and younger sister Infanta Sofia, 16, for reassurance.
Her confidence has no doubt been honed by a stint away from her family at boarding school – the Welsh Hippie Hogwarts – as well as military training and giving her first public speech aged 13 to mark the 40th anniversary of the Spanish constitution.
As she swore allegiance to the Spanish Constitution in Parliament with her family and government representatives watching on, Leonor’s experience in public speaking was clear to see, with a proud and unwavering delivery.
In a speech delivered to the nation after the ceremony, the Princess once again stated her commitment to the Spanish people, and in turn asked Spaniards to trust in her as she steps up her role and becomes a Queen-in-training.
And a touching yet poignant moment came when the King presented his daughter with the Collar of the Order of (Carlos III) which is the highest civil honour in Spain.
Leonor looked regal in a white suit, with her hair pulled back into a low, sleek ponytail, and her make up neutral and understated.
Following the ceremony, the 18-year-old Princess kissed her mother Queen Letizia, 51, and father King Felipe, 55, on the cheek, as the proud parents held her arms in a supportive gesture.
Throughout, the King and Queen watched on – and at the end of the ceremony when Leonor was presented with medals of Congress and The Senate, her father King Felipe offered a sweet fatherly gesture.
The monarch stepped in to adjust his eldest daughter’s ponytail so the heavy-looking medals could rest more comfortably around her neck.
It was a fleeting gesture that did not take any attention away from the woman of the hour, but an indication that the monarch is still there to guide his daughter as she steps up in her responsibilities.
Princess Leonor (left) has sworn allegiance to the Spanish Constitution to mark her 18th birthday, meaning she can now officially act as regent in the absence of her father King Felipe (right)
In a poignant moment, King Felipe adjusted the Collar of the Order of Charles III (Carlos III) on his daughter’s shoulders at the end of the ceremony
The Collar of the Order of Charles III (Carlos III), awarded to Princess Leonor today, is Spain’s highest civil honour
The Spanish heir to the throne and her mother looked elegant as they walked through Congress
Princess Leonor’s proud parents and younger sister Infanta Sofia, 16, watched on in earnest as the heir to the throne addressed the nation
Princess Leonor kissed her mother on the cheek and took her arm in a gesture of support after swearing allegiance to the Constitution
Queen Letizia beamed as she stood with her family and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez
Princess Leonor, the Princess of Asturias, was awarded with the medals of Congress and the Senate before the Cortes Generales, in the Congress of Deputies
Princess Leonor has sworn allegiance to the Spanish Constitution to mark her 18th birthday in Madrid
The Princess and future Queen of Spain swore allegiance to the Constitution as part of the Magna Carta Ceremony, carried out by her father 27 years ago, as she marks her 18th birthday
The Princess looked regal in a white suit while her mother Queen Letizia opted for a royal blue dress
Leonor opted for the white suit, while her hair was pulled back into a slick low ponytail and her make-up was neutral
Leonor had a large audience as the entire Spanish Parliament gathered for the swearing in ceremony
Ahead of the ceremony in the Spanish capital, crowds of royal fans lined the streets to join in on the celebrations – reflecting the young royal’s popularity among the people of Spain.
Newspaper El Espanol reported that the 18-year-old is Spain’s most popular royal, after a poll revealed she is even more highly regarded than her father King Felipe.
The enthusiasm for the Spanish royal family and its younger generations is a far cry from discontent that spread around the nation following the abdication of Leonor’s grandfather, King Juan Carlos.
The former monarch 84, who currently lives in Abu Dhabi, stepped down after nearly 40 years on the throne in 2014 after his daughter’s husband became embroiled in a controversial elephant hunting scandal.
Just this month, the former King won his bid to end a £126 million High Court battle in the UK with his Danish ex-lover who accused him of spying on and harassing her.
Businesswoman Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, who is in her late 50s, claimed the former royal had caused her ‘great mental pain’.
Juan Carlos, 85, has denied wrongdoing and disputed the claims made against him, arguing they are not ‘viable’.
Despite several years of scandal at the heart of the Spanish monarchy, the royal family today appeared to enter a new era, with King Felipe, Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia welcomed in the centre of Madrid by roaring crowds.
The Magna Carta ceremony marks 37 years since Leonor’s father, King Felipe, swore the oath on 30 January 1986 in the same Palacio de las Cortes de la Carrera de San Jerónimo.
The oath taken by Leonor before the Cortes Generales preserves the Magna Carta as the successor of the Head of State.
In addition to Leonor swearing an oath to the Spanish Constitution, the mayor has invited residents to join in on the celebrations.
Volunteers have distributed more than 7,500 Spanish flags across the city for residents to wave in appreciation of Leonor.
Later on in the day, an honour guard of the Municipal Police, chaired by the vice mayor of Madrid, which will include the Cavalry Squadron and the Municipal Police Music Band, will be deployed in the Plaza de la Villa.
José Luis Martínez-Almeida said: ‘As mayor of the capital of Spain, I invite you to actively participate so that Madrid is once again up to par and that this historic ceremony is an eloquent icon of the loyalty and affection that we Madrid residents feel for the Royal Family in general and for Mrs. Leonor in particular on this special day of her life.
‘May our streets and balconies be decorated with the colours of the national flag, “a symbol that unites all Spaniards,” as the King recalled in the recent Flag oath of the Princess of Asturias in Zaragoza.’
The future Queen looked regal in a white suit, and kept her make-up minimal and neutral, showcasing her natural beauty
The Spanish royal family and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrived at the ceremony
As she arrived in the car next to her little sister Infanta Sofia, Princess Leonor waved at the crowds
Addressing an audience last week at the Princesa de Asturias Awards in Oviedo, the young royal assured guests she takes her responsibility very seriously.
Speaking to the crowd, with her parents, 16-year-old sister Infanta Sofia and other family members watching on, she said it will be an ‘honour’ to swear in the Spanish Constitution on her 18th birthday.
The queen-in-waiting added: ‘I very well understand and am aware of what my duty is and what my responsibilities entail.’
Elsewhere in her speech, the Spanish princess went on to praise the Princesa de Asturias Award winners, Hola! reported.
In particular, she noted the career achievements of three-time Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep, who was honoured at the ceremony.
Who is the Princess of Asturias? And why is Spain gripped by ‘Leonormania’? This heir to the throne will be the first Queen for 150 years. And she’s handy with a rifle…
Leonormania’ has taken hold as Spain prepares to mark the 18th birthday Princess Leonor, heir to the throne, with a major state ceremony.
Speculation has been mounting as to who has been invited on Tuesday when the Princess of Astorias, as she is formally titled, with swear allegiance to the Spanish constitution.
Despite sharp political divisions, reports from Spain suggest the country is largely united behind the young princess, who is currently undergoing military training as Cadet Borbon.
Recent changes to primogeniture rules mean we can also expect queens on the throne in a number of European countries, including Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands and Norway. Queen Margrethe is currently sovereign of Denmark.
The law hasn’t changed in Spain, where the monarchy still favours the first-born boy. But it seems unlikely that Leonor will get a little brother at this stage.
Princess Leonor of Spain turns 18 this week. She will be one of half a dozen European queens in the coming decades
Princess Leonor participates in the offering of cadets to the Virgin of Pilar in the basilica of the patron saint of Hispanity at the General Military Academy of Zaragoza in October 2023
If Leonor ascends to the throne, she will make history as Spain’s first queen regnant since Isabella II
Princess Leonor smiles over at Meryl Streep at the Princess of Asturias Awards this year
Queen Letizia of Spain and Crown Princess Leonor of Spain attend a concert ahead of the “Princesa De Asturias” Awards 2023
Speaking last week, the princess described the oaths swearing as an honour: ‘I very well understand and am aware of what my duty is and what my responsibilities entail,’ she told the Spanish public.
Born on October 31, 2005, in the Ruber International Hospital in Madrid, Leonor is the eldest daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain and is formally titled Princess of Asturias.
If Leonor ascends to the throne, she will make history as Spain’s first queen regnant since her fourth great-grandmother Isabella II, who reigned from 1833 to 1868. She will be only the second Queen in the history of unified Spain.
Princess Leonor was born in the in the Ruber International Hospital in Madrid in 2005
King Felipe with his daughter Princess Leonor during their summer holidays in 2006
Felipe and Letizia with their daughter on her first day at school in 2008
Following Leonor in the line of succession is her sister, Princess Sofía, two years her junior.
The princess gave her first public speech in 2018 when she was just 13 years old to mark the 40th anniversary of the Spanish constitution.
In 2019, she delivered an impressive speech at the Princess of Girona Foundation Awards in Barcelona in four languages – Spanish, Catalan, English and Arabic.
As well as inheriting her mother’s polished sense of style, she has reportedly learned how to play tennis, sail, perform gymnastics, and play the cello.
The royal made her first solo appearance without her mother and father aged 15 as she presided over the Cervantes Institute’s 30th anniversary in Madrid in 2021.
She was welcomed by the then Deputy Prime Minister, Carmen Calvo and the director of the Cervantes Institute, Luis García Montero, sitting front row at the event.
Princess Leonor pledging allegiance to the flag as she officially begins three years of military training to prepare for her future as the country’s head of state
King Felipe and his daughter Crown Princess Leonor salute the flag during the Spanish National Day military parade in Madrid, October 2023
Six months later, the princess headed to Wales to study at the private Atlantic College.
Leonor enrolled on a £67,000, two-year course to study for her International Baccalaureate diploma at the school, which she has now completed.
Meanwhile, Leonor has recently been at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza as she embarks upon three years of training.
In preparation for her role as Spain’s head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Leonor must complete the three years in line with tradition as she follows the path of her father, King Felipe.
After training at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, which is Spain’s equivalent to Sandhurst, she will go to naval school and will complete her three years at the General Air Academy.
The composed princess gave her first public speech in 2018 when she was 13 years old to mark the 40th anniversary of the Spanish constitution
Following Leonor in the line of succession is her sister, Infanta Sofía, (right) who is two years her junior
As well as inheriting her mother’s polished sense of style, she has reportedly learned how to play tennis, sail, perform gymnastics, and play the cello
Spanish King Felipe VI and his daughter Princess Leonor pictured as they pose in the gardens at the Marivent palace on the island of Majorca in August 2019
Princess Leonor at UWC Atlantic College in the Vale of Glamorgan, where she studied for two years
Leonor has recently been at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza as she embarks upon three years of training
She’s set to become commander-in-chief of the armed forces once she is the Spanish monarch
The princess revealed her enthusiasm for soon being a cadet at the Princesa de Girona Foundation award ceremony in Girona, Catalonia, on July 5.
She said: ‘I have just finished high school and I am about to start a new stage with a period of military training.
‘I am happy because I know how much the Spanish value our armed forces… it is an important moment in my life and I feel very excited and determined to continue learning and giving my best effort.’It was also revealed that the young Princess would go on to study law at university once her training with the military is complete, although her choice of university has not yet been revealed.
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