The unexpected returned of King Juan Carlos I to Spain captured headlines but the former monarch had another focus. Juan Carlos had come back to join a 60th birthday party for his eldest child, Infanta Elena, and as he left, the two shared a special gesture that has clearly united them over the years.
Elena accompanied her father to his car as her celebrations came to an end and said farewell with a curtsey. However, at that point, their own personal moves took over. Both touched the top of each other’s heads before starting a series of handshakes they obviously knew well. The sequence ended with each of them touching the other’s chests, above the heart, and smiling.
It was obviously a special set of actions they have performed many times before and Elena laughed as they finished their own, personal farewell.
It ended a surprising afternoon which had seen Juan Carlos arrive at a restaurant in Madrid to join a birthday party which also included his son, King Felipe VI. The two have rarely met since Juan Carlos left Spain in August 2020 for self imposed exile in Abu Dhabi. The two weren’t photographed together but King Felipe was all smiles as he greeted photographers outside the venue.
Queen Sofia was also present as was Infanta Cristina. Elena’s two son and daughter, Felipe and Victoria de Marichalar, also attended as did Cristina’s children. King Felipe and Queen Letizia, however, weren’t joined by their daughters. Princess Leonor was on military training exercises while Infanta Sofia was returning from Wales where she has been sttudying.
However, much of the focus was on Juan Carlos. And at this celebration for a milestone birthday attended by two kings, two queens and other royalty, it was a moment between father and daughter that stole the show.
