Spain

Political pressure grows for King Felipe VI to criticise his father in his Christmas Eve speech

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23rd December 2020
A spokesperson for the minority partner in Spain’s coalition government has told King Felipe that he must condemn the financial irregularities of his father, Juan Carlos, in his Christmas Eve speech as a ‘bare minimum’. A representative of the left wing Unidas Podemos, which governs alongside the more moderate socialist PSOE, has said that unless the issue is addressed, the…
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Spain

Spain's government accused of 'hiding' King Felipe

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22nd December 2020
The leader of Spain’s main opposition party has claimed that the government is hiding the royals away on visits to Catalonia. The accusation came after King Felipe and Queen Letizia travelled to Barcelona on a visit that was only made public once they had…
British Royals

The Royal Family, like millions, face a very different Christmas as new restrictions kick in

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20th December 2020
Millions of people across England woke up to new restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic on December 20th 2020. The revised rules, announced just hours earlier by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, include a Tier 4 which limits contact between households even further. The regulations will stay in place for the forseeable future meaning many Christmas plans will have to be cancelled as…
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Queen Elizabeth II

The Queen's Christmas Day surprise

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19th December 2020
It’s proving to be a very different Christmas in more ways than one for many and the Queen is no exception. This year, the contents of her Christmas Day speech will be kept secret until the moment it is broadcast. Her Majesty usually pre-records her Christmas Day…
Spain

Will King Felipe use his Christmas speech to publicly distance himself from his father?

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19th December 2020
A Spanish government minister has indicated that King Felipe will use his Christmas message to distance himself from his father, Juan Carlos I, whose financial affairs have seen his royal family plunged into crisis over the past year. Exactly a week before Felipe is set to address Spain in his annual festive speech, Carmen Calvo, first vicepresident of the government, described the King as…
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BelgiumRoyal Weddings

Royal Wedding Rewind: King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola

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15th December 2020
The marriage of King Baudouin of the Belgians and Fabiola de Mora y Aragon, on December 15th 1960, gave a country a new queen and began a royal partnership that would become one of the most successful in modern regal history. The discreet monarch and his equally dignified bride went on to enjoy a long and happy union that would help stabilise the Belgian monarchy after years of turbulence. Their…
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