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Spain

King Felipe and King Juan Carlos together to mark special birthday for Infanta Elena

By
20th December 2023

They’ve rarely been seen together in recent years but King Felipe VI of Spain and his father, King Juan Carlos, were reunited in Madrid for a special occasion.

Infanta Elena, eldest of the three children of Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, turned 60 on December 20th 2023 and she was joined by many of her family to mark the event at a lunch.

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They came together for a celebration at a restaurant in Madrid and, after some speculation about when they would next meet, both King Felipe and King Juan Carlos arrived for the party, albeit separately.

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Queen Sofia was also there to celebrate her firstborn reaching her seventh decade and was joined by her younger daughter, Infanta Cristina. Queen Sofia’s sister, Princess Irene of Greece, was there as well.

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Infanta Elena’s two children, Felipe and Victoria de Marichalar, were part of the celebrations along with Infanta Cristina’s children, Juan, Pablo, Miguel and Irene. However, Princess Leonor was unable to join the family reunion as she continues her military training and her younger sister, Infanta Sofia, wasn’t present having just completed her first term studying in Wales.

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Infanta Margarita, sister of King Juan Carlos, was among the family party.

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King Felipe and King Juan Carlos weren’t seen together. Felipe VI arrived and left with his wife, Queen Letizia, who has weathered a media storm in recent weeks after a former brother in law claimed he had a relationship with her before and after her 2004 wedding to Felipe.

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It was Infanta Elena who accompanied her father to his car after the celebration, looking thrilled that he was there, and curtseying deeply to him on the pavement outside the restaurant. She was also presented with flowers by wellwishers.

Elena Maria Isabel Dominica was born on December 20th 1963, the first of three children of Juan Carlos and Sofia. Spain didn’t have a monarchy at the time of her birth. Following its restoration, it was decided that the succession would follow male primogeniture and her younger brother, Felipe, became heir and, eventually, king.

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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.