The Emeritus King meets again in private with the Princess of Asturias in El Pardo

Felipe VI's father has not been invited to Congress or the Royal Palace, as happened with his grandfather during his swearing-in

MADRID, 31 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The King Emeritus met again this Tuesday with Princess Leonor, taking advantage of the family celebration on the occasion of the 18th birthday of the heir to the throne and her swearing in of the Constitution that took place at the El Pardo Palace.

Don Juan Carlos had not had the opportunity to see the eldest daughter of King Felipe VI since she moved to live in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in August 2020, where she later established her permanent residence.

The one who was monarch for almost four decades has made four visits to Spain since then, the last of them at the end of September, although only in the first, which occurred at the end of May 2022, did he travel to Madrid and was in the Palace of Zarzuela.

Then the emeritus, in addition to holding a meeting with the King, his son, had the opportunity to have lunch with other members of his family, in particular Queen Letizia, Infanta Sofía and Queen Sofía, whom he had not seen since his departure to the Gulf country. Princess Eleanor was not present, as she was in Wales studying high school.

Despite the day's announcement for the Princess of Asturias, who upon reaching the age of majority is already a full heir to succeed her father, the emeritus has not even been invited to the solemn session of the Cortes before which he has sworn in. the Constitution nor to the subsequent act in the Royal Palace in which the collar of the Order of Charles III was imposed on him.

In both cases the presence has been limited to the Kings and Infanta Sofía, as Zarzuela had anticipated when he announced the date on which the swearing-in of the Constitution would take place. Then, from the King's House it was made clear that the family of Felipe VI and that of Queen Letizia would only attend the family and private celebration that would take place at the El Pardo Palace, remaining outside the institutional events.

The fact that Franco's official residence was chosen and not the Zarzuela Palace, where Don Juan Carlos resided first as Prince of Spain and then as monarch for almost six decades, highlights the distance that the King has wanted to score with his father, especially in recent years when he was marred by several judicial investigations that ultimately did not prosper.

The absence of Don Juan Carlos on a day that his son has not hesitated to call "relevant for our history and full of meaning for Spain" contrasts with the prominent presence that the grandfather of the now monarch had when he swore the Constitution on December 30. January 1986.

So, Don Juan was not only on the stand when this occurred but the then president of Congress, Gregorio Peces-Barba, even mentioned him in his speech, highlighting his sacrifice for having renounced the throne.

Although Felipe VI mentioned that day in the speech he gave during the lunch in honor of Princess Leonor at the Royal Palace, he did not make any reference to his father during the speech even though he recognized that his daughter embodies "the continuity "of the parliamentary monarchy of which Juan Carlos I was one of the architects.

The King has stressed that "although the historical circumstances are different" from those of 1986, the duty of the Princess of Asturias, and his, "is to comply with and respect our Constitution." "And that duty prevails at all times over any other consideration," he has warned his eldest daughter. Don Felipe has also placed special emphasis on the fact that the Crown is subject to the Law, like the rest of the institutions.

Nor has the Princess of Asturias made any reference to her grandfather in the brief speech she gave after receiving the necklace of the Order of Charles III. The future Queen has pledged to serve "with respect and loyalty." "I ask you to trust me," she has told the Spanish, just as she has said that she trusts the future of Spain.

Other relatives of the Princess of Asturias have also traveled to the El Pardo Palace who wanted to accompany her on this special day. In addition to her paternal grandfather, she has also seen Infanta Elena and Infanta Cristina arrive. Both have arrived in a van in which Froilán, the eldest son of the first, was also traveling as co-pilot, and Irene, the youngest daughter of the second.

Although they have not been seen, it is expected that both Queen Sofía and Doña Letizia's parents, Jesús Ortiz and Paloma Rocasolano, have also attended.

Among those who have been seen upon their arrival are Infanta Margarita, paternal aunt of the King, and her daughter María Zurita, as well as Ana María de Grecia, maternal aunt of the monarch, and Alexia, her daughter, who came accompanied by her husband and children.