Just days before the third anniversary of his self imposed exile from Spain, King Juan Carlos has returned to the country.
The former monarch was spotted sailing off the coast of Galicia as his son and successor headed to Mallorca where the Spanish royal family traditionally spends a summer holiday.
Embed from Getty ImagesKing Juan Carlos took part in a regatta at Sanxenxo, waving as cameras followed his moves on the water. Meanwhile, his son and successor, King Felipe VI, was seen sailing in Mallorca.
It’s the third time he’s returned to Spain since announcing in August 2020 that he was leaving the country amidst reports of financial irregularity. After sending an open letter to King Felipe VI, King Juan Carlos disappeared and his whereabouts weren’t discovered for almost two weeks. It was eventually confirmed that he had gone to live in Abu Dhabi where he has resided since.
All inquiries into his financial dealings have now been ended without any further action being taken. King Juan Carlos denied any wrongdoing.
Juan Carlos ruled Spain from 1975, when he took power on the death of the fascist dictator, Francisco Franco. He helped bring democracy to the country but fell from grace after a series of scandals and abdicated in 2014 in favour of Felipe VI.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe return to Spain comes as politicians begin to negotiate about the shape of the country’s government following an indecisive general election which saw the conservative Partido Popular win the most seats but not a majority.
King Felipe held a series of meetings with political leaders from Mallorca at the Marivent Palace as his holiday began before heading out to the water to sail.
