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Spain

A quiet Easter leads to noisy debate for Spain’s royals

The decision of the King and Queen of Spain to pass their Easter holidays mostly in private has led to debate in some of the country’s newspapers.

King Felipe, Queen Letizia and their daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, spent Easter Saturday visiting Ukrainian refugees in Madrid. But there was no appearance from the family on Easter Sunday itself.

Spain’s royals traditionally pass Easter Day in Mallorca where they attend Mass at the cathedral. For many years, it was a set piece event that brought together the whole family. However, this year, Felipe and Letizia decided to stay in the Spanish capital for Easter.

Instead, the main family appearance came via a couple of photos taken thousands of miles away. In the run up to Easter, King Juan Carlos was joined in Abu Dhabi by his two daughters, Infanta Elena, and Infanta Cristina, and five of his grandchildren. Images of the get together, the first big reunion since Juan Carlos went into self imposed exile in August 2020, were seen widely around Spain.

Queen Sofia did head to Mallorca, spending a few days there in Holy Week. However, she returned to Madrid for Easter Sunday itself.

The royal Easter in Mallorca is such an ingrained part of the family’s schedule that the decision of Felipe and Letizia to miss this year, the first time since the pandemic that such a trip would have been possible, has led to discussion. Since the restoration of the Spanish monarchy, in 1975, the country’s royals have spent some important holidays away from Madrid, to highlight the whole nation. The choice to remain in the capital has been seen by commentators as an attempt to promote a new monarchy, distinct from that of Juan Carlos.

However, the man who ruled Spain for almost forty years remains a major talking point. The days after Easter saw more reports of a planned return from Abu Dhabi and discussion about whether the former monarch would be allowed to stay at the Zarzuela Palace, his home of several decades.

Juan Carlos remains a dominant figure in Spain’s royal landscape and the actions of his son, Felipe VI, were somewhat overshadowed by him and by the heir to the throne, Princess Leonor. She returned from her studies in Wales for the first time in several months and her latest solo engagement, focused on cyber security, attracted much attention.

Meanwhile, King Felipe’s string of engagements was politely marked. There was more interest in the revelation, as the week came to an end, that he had managed to head to Mallorca briefly and by himself in the days before Easter where it’s understood he visited his mother and also spent time at a sailing club.

Felipe and Letizia have always guarded their family life and this Easter is no different. Hola later reported they had spent part of their break celebrating the birthday of Paloma Rocasolano, mother of Queen Letizia. But this drip of information has led to questions about what royal holidays, in particular Easter, will look like as the royal family moves forward.

About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.