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Hundreds protest return of Spain’s exiled ex-king Juan Carlos

Hundreds of protesters demonstrated in Madrid on Sunday against tarnished former king Juan Carlos I, whose visit to Spain after almost two years of self-imposed exile in the UAE has sparked criticism.

Published: 23 May 2022 09:31 CEST
Hundreds protest return of Spain's exiled ex-king Juan Carlos
Protesters hold a Republican flag during an anti-monarchy demonstration in Madrid on May 22, 2022, coinciding with the return to Spain of former king Juan Carlos I. (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP)

Holding signs reading “Justice” and “The Borbón in prison”, the demonstrators gathered near the Spanish capital’s royal palace. A government spokesman put their number at 300.

Juan Carlos this week returned to Spain for the first time since August 2020 to attend a regatta, after investigations into alleged corruption and money laundering were shelved in March.

The 84-year-old was admired for his role in Spain’s democratic transition following the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975, but revelations about the opaque origins of his fortune have tarnished his reputation among many Spaniards.

Demonstrators wave a flag of the Second Spanish Republic as they gather to protest against the visit of Spain’s former King to attend the regatta of the InterRias trophy of 6M Spanish Cup, in the Galician town of Sanxenxo, northwestern Spain, on May 21st, 2022. Photo: Brais Lorenzo/AFP

The former monarch is due to visit his son King Felipe VI in Madrid on Monday before returning to the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi, his new permanent residence.

Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government still expects “explanations” from Juan Carlos, who abdicated in favour of Felipe in 2014. Media reports say the government opposes his staying at the Zarzuela Palace, Felipe’s official residence.

But in the northwestern port of Sanxenxo, where Juan Carlos competed in the regatta this weekend, dozens of onlookers welcomed him, shouting “Long live the king, long live Spain!”.

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ROYAL FAMILY

IN PICTURES: Spain’s crown princess comes of age in boost for monarchy

Princess Leonor, heir to the Spanish crown, swore loyalty to the constitution on Tuesday, her 18th birthday, a legal milestone on the path to inheriting the crown from her father King Felipe VI.

Published: 31 October 2023 13:42 CET
IN PICTURES: Spain's crown princess comes of age in boost for monarchy

Her mother Queen Letizia and younger sister Sofia joined Felipe as Leonor took the oath before a joint session of both houses of parliament.

Leonor wore a white suit and after the playing of the national anthem she pledged loyalty on the same copy of the constitution as her father 37 years ago.

After taking the oath, Princess Leonor can legally succeed her father, King Felipe VI, and automatically becomes head of state in the event of the monarch’s absence. (Photo by Andres BALLESTEROS / POOL / AFP)
 

“I swear to faithfully fulfil my duties, to protect and have protected the Constitution and its laws, to respect the rights of citizens and autonomous communities and to be faithful to the king,” she said.

Loud applause echoed round the chamber of deputies in Madrid for several minutes and the king embraced his daughter.

Spanish Crown Princess of Asturias Leonor gestures as she receives a round of applause. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
 

Madrid city hall set up giant screens in the central Puerta del Sol square for the public to watch a live broadcast of the brief ceremony.

READ ALSO: What you need to know about Spain’s crown princess

A crowd had gathered outside parliament amid a sea of Spanish flags and shouts of “Long live Spain”.

Spanish Crown Princess of Asturias Leonor appears on a giant screen installed on Puerta del Sol as thousands of supporters watch her swear allegiance to the Spanish Constitution. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
 

The streets had been decorated with images of the queen-in-waiting.

With the oath taken, Leonor can legally succeed Felipe and automatically becomes head of state in the event of the monarch’s absence.

Leonor is next in line to the throne in Spain. (Photo by Andres BALLESTEROS / POOL / AFP)

Her grandfather Juan Carlos, who took the oath in 1969 when dictator General Francisco Franco named him as his successor, did not attend the ceremony.

Media reported he would attend a private party at the El Pardo palace near Madrid after the event, the first formal royal family gathering he will attend since going into exile.

Spanish Crown Princess of Asturias Leonor (L) and her sister Princess Sofia leave in their car after attending a ceremony to swear loyalty to the constitution. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP)
 

Juan Carlos came to the throne in 1975 after Franco’s death and was widely respected for his role in helping guide Spain from dictatorship to democracy.

But a steady flow of embarrassing stories about his love life and personal wealth eroded his standing.

He abdicated in 2014, dogged by scandals and health problems, and in 2020 went into self-imposed exile in Abu Dhabi amid investigations into his financial affairs, since shelved.

READ ALSO: What do Spaniards think of their royal family?

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