King Juan Carlos has spent the past few months pulling all kinds of surprises as he tells all in a memoir that’s caused plenty of debate in Spain and further afield. Now, as 2025 comes to an end, he’s gone for another unexpected move and this time, it involves puppies.
Juan Carlos and his wife, Queen Sofia, have revealed their Christmas card for this year and taken everyone aback by showcasing what’s got to be one of the cutest royal photos in years.
They’ve chosen a festive scene featuring five pet dogs, all of them very small and very sweet, and it’s caused quite the stir.
King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia have lived apart, officially, for five years since the former monarch went into self imposed exile in August 2020 after controversy around his financial and personal life. He now resides in Abu Dhabi although he’s often said, and more noticeably in recent weeks, that he wants to return to Spain.
Queen Sofia still lives in Madrid and continues to carry out a range of engagements for Spain’s royal family. Just weeks ago, she was given one of the country’s highest honours, the Toison d’Or, by her son, King Felipe VI, for her service to Spain.
It was presented as the country marked fifty years since the restoration of the monarchy. Controversially, King Juan Carlos wasn’t invited to any of the public events for the anniversary which also marked fifty years since the start of his reign.
Sofia and Juan Carlos have continued to send a joint card in recent years and usually choose a nativity scene taken from art.
However, this year it’s their dogs that are the stars of their Christmas. Two cocker spaniels, two miniature schnauzers and tiny peekapoo pose in front of a frost tinted Christmas tree.
The image was released at the same time as the festive greeting of King Felipe and Queen Letizia who don’t stand a snowball’s chance this Christmas as they’ve kept it all very sensible.
The King and Queen of Spain posed for a photo with their two daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, as the four visited the village in Asturias which was given the prize for outstanding community in this year’s prestigious Princess of Asturias awards.
There’s an autumnal vibe to the image, taken in October, with Leonor choosing an on trend mix of denim and suede for her outfit. The trees are still in bloom, although the leaves are turning orange, and it’s warm enough in this Christmas photo for Queen Letizia to go without a coat.
It’s expected that King Juan Carlos will spend Christmas in Abu Dhabi while King Felipe and Queen Letizia will celebrate in Madrid.
Felipe VI will give his Christmas broadcast on Christmas Eve. The Spanish royal address is much longer than other Christmas messages, stretching to a good ten minutes, and it touches on serious matters. It’s expected that this time round, King Felipe will refer to the half century since the restoration of the monarchy in his address.
However, once more, it’s his father who has grabbed the headlines and this time by surprising everyone with puppies.
