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Spain

Infanta Cristina joins rest of Spanish Royal Family for mass in memory of father of King Juan Carlos

Infanta Cristina has joined her parents and siblings at mass for her late paternal grandfather, Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona at the Basilica of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Also in attendance was Their Majesties King Felipe, Queen Letizia, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía and Her Royal Highness Infanta Elena.

The mass commemorated the 25th anniversary of the death of King Juan Carlos’s father, who died on 1 April 1993 at the Navarra University Clinic in Pamplona, Spain, at 79-years-old. He was buried in the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. His remains will soon be moved to its Pantheon of Kings as remains are initially taken to a pudridero or decaying chamber in the monastery and later moved to its final location.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia arrive at the mass. © Casa de S.M. el Rey

In total 250 people were in attendance alongside the royals including members of the Royal Family of Bulgaria and other family members of King Juan Carlos, along with representatives of the Spanish government.

It was officiated by Monsignor Juan del Río, Archbishop of Castile, and the National Anthem was played at the beginning of the service.

After the ceremony, King Felipe, Queen Letizia, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía greeted the attendees in the Chapter Rooms.

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía in their seats just before mass began. © Casa de S.M. el Rey

This is the first time Cristina has joined the family since 11 May 2017 when she attended the funeral of Infanta Alicia, Duchess of Calabria. She has largely remained out of the public eye after the Nóos Case. She was acquitted of charges, but her husband, Iñaki Urdangarin, was convicted and sentenced to several years in prison. The scandal was, in part, blamed for the abdication of King Juan Carlos and the low approval rating of the Spanish Royal Family upon Juan Carlos’s renouncing of the throne.

As a result, Casa Real did not post any images of Infanta Cristina at mass on their website in their informational article about the service.

About author

Brittani is from Tennessee, USA. She is a political scientist and historian after graduating with a degree in the topics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in December 2014. She also holds a master's degree from Northeastern University. She enjoys reading and researching all things regarding the royals of the world. She's been researching, reading, and writing on royalty for over a decade. She became Europe Editor in October 2016, and then Deputy Editor in January 2019, and has been featured on several podcasts, radio shows, news broadcasts and websites including Global News Canada, ABC News Australia, WION India and BBC World News.