King Felipe and Queen Letizia are cutting short their time in Greece and missing the burial of his aunt, Princess Irene, to return to Spain after a terrible accident left dozens dead.
Felipe and Letizia decided to leave the funeral ceremonies for Irene early after the full scale of a train crash at Adamuz in Andalucia became clear.
At least 39 people have been killed in the accident with over 150 injured. Of those, 48 are being treated in hospital and 12, including a child, are in intensive care.
As King Felipe left for the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens for the funeral of his aunt, he told reporters that he would return to Spain as soon as possible. Queen Letizia and their daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, stood at his side as he delivered his sombre message.
Queen Letizia added that their priority was to be with those affected and to help in any way they could.
The King of Spain also said he was thinking of all those affected. Earlier, the royals issued a statement saying that they were following updates on the accident, between two high speed trains, with ”great concern” and added ”we extend our deepest condolences to family members and loved ones of those who have died, as well as our best wishes for a quick recovery for those injured.”
It’s understood that King Felipe and Queen Letizia will travel to Adamuz on January 20 to meet rescuers and emergency services as well as some of those injured, if the doctors treating them think they are well enough.
Spain’s royals had travelled to Athens before the accident took place. They were joining other family members there for the funeral of Princess Irene of Greece, Felipe’s maternal aunt, who died on January 15 2026 at the age of 83. She was the younger sister of Queen Sofia, 87, who had been her constant companion in recent years as Irene’s heath declined.
Also at the funeral were Irene’s other nephews and nieces, the children of her brother, the late King Constantine of Greece. His eldest son, Crown Prince Pavlos, arrived at the cathedral with his brothers, Prince Nikolaos and Prince Philippos, walking past wreaths sent by royalty from around Europe.
Princess Irene, the youngest child of King Paul and Queen Frederica of Greece, had lived in Spain for the past forty years but retained a strong link to and affection for Greece.
She will be buried in the Greek royal family cemetery at Tatoi. King Felipe and Queen Letizia had been set to attend the burial but will now depart Greece early to get back to Spain as the country deals with its worst train accident in over a decade.
