Spain’s royals have sprung a surprise with their latest revelation.
Ahead of the family taking its Easter break, it’s been confirmed that Infanta Cristina, sister of King Felipe VI, is spending the holidays in the Marivent Palace in Mallorca.
It’s the first time since she was charged and later acquitted of financial wrongdoings that the royals have confirmed her presence at the royal residence.
Cristina, 60, is joining her mother, Queen Sofia, 88, at Marivent as Easter approaches.
(Picture by RAW Press / i-Images)
Until her fall from grace, Cristina also held the title of Duchess of Palma de Mallorca, given to her at the time of her wedding by her father, King Juan Carlos.
She gave up the title after both she and her former husband, Inaki Urdangarin, were investigated for corruption. Her brother, King Felipe, said he had removed the title but Cristina claimed publicly to have surrendered it anyway.
In 2017, she was tried and acquitted of corruption charges. Inaki Urdangarin was found guilty of embezzling money and was sentenced to almost 6 years in prison in 2018 but was released under supervision in 2021. Infanta Cristina and Inaki Urdangarin divorced in 2023.
However, since Felipe VI’s accession in 2014, she has had no public role within the Spanish royal family and has only been seen at private family events. So it’s an unusual move for her presence in Mallorca to be confirmed.
It’s not known whether King Felipe and Queen Letizia will head to Mallorca this Easter. Spain’s royals used to spend the Easter break on the island every year but Felipe has scaled back that tradition. It’s been reported that the King and Queen of Spain will enjoy private holidays with their daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia.
(Casa de S. M. el Rey)
Leonor, 20, is in the final stages of her year of training with Spain’s Air Force while Sofia, who will turn 19 in April, is in the first year of her university course.
Queen Sofia still loves to travel to Mallorca and always went with her sister, Princess Irene of Greece. Irene died in January, at the age of 83.
As she faces her first Easter break there since the death of her sister, Queen Sofia has both her daughters at her side. Her eldest child, Infanta Elena, is also with her at Marivent.
The palace, on Mallorca, was given to the Spanish royals as a holiday home at the start of the reign of King Juan Carlos and for years, the royal family took very public breaks there at Easter and in the summer.
For several years, they were joined by Charles and Diana, then Prince and Princess of Wales, and their two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.
King Felipe still travels to Mallorca for several days at the start of his summer break and has meetings with local politicians there as well as with Spain’s Prime Minister. Along with Queen Letizia and Queen Sofia, he also hosts a reception for dignitaries on the island. Last summer, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia joined the reception for the first time.
