Spain Excludes Former King Juan Carlos I From 50-year Monarchy Celebration

The Royal Household marks half a period since nan restoration of Spain’s parliamentary monarchy pinch low-key events – and without nan erstwhile king whose scandals still protector nan crown. 

A milestone without its founder

Spain will commemorate 50 years since nan proclamation of King Juan Carlos I connected November 22 1975, but nan man who ushered successful nan country’s modern populist will not return portion successful nan charismatic celebrations. 

According to nan Royal Household, nan emeritus king has not been invited to nan organization acts scheduled for November 21 astatine Madrid’s Royal Palace and nan Congress of Deputies. Instead, he has been invited only to a backstage family luncheon nan pursuing time astatine El Pardo Palace, confirming nan ongoing region betwixt nan 87-year-old monarch and nan institution he erstwhile led. 

The Palace said nan determination followed “normal protocol,” noting that Juan Carlos retired from nationalist duties successful 2019 and truthful does not participate successful authorities events. A overmuch much polite measurement of saying they don’t peculiarly want him there. 

Felipe VI intends for a discreet tone

For King Felipe VI, nan day offers an opportunity to observe Spain’s modulation to populist while reinforcing nan monarchy’s renewed image aft a turbulent decade. Since his accession successful 2014, Felipe has pursued what analysts telephone an “institutional reset” – introducing financial audits, a codification of conduct, and a clear separation from his father’s affairs. 

Casa Real sources told Spanish broadcaster RTVE nan arena would person a “low floor plan and consensus-based tone,” highlighting 5 decades of parliamentary stableness alternatively than individual personalities. 

During nan ceremony, nan Golden Fleece (Toisón de Oro) – 1 of Spain’s highest honours – will beryllium presented to Queen Sofía, erstwhile premier curate Felipe González, and law architects Miquel Roca and Miguel Herrero, each recognised for their work during Spain’s antiauthoritarian transition. 

“Self-imposed” exile aft a cleanable record? Hmm… 

Although prosecutors closed investigations into Juan Carlos successful 2022, citing statute limitations and nan erstwhile king’s taxation regularisations, his estimation remains tarnished. The Spanish Supreme Court dismissed lingering tax-fraud allegations earlier this year, while a UK harassment lawsuit brought by ex-companion Corinna Larsen was thrown retired connected jurisdictional grounds. 

Despite being legally cleared, nan erstwhile monarch has lived successful self-imposed exile successful Abu Dhabi since 2020, returning to Spain only for little family visits and sailing regattas. Not excessively bad! 

His forthcoming memoirs, owed later this month, person already drawn attraction for candid reflections connected his “grave mistakes” and strained relationships pinch his son. Palace officials reportedly sought to abstracted nan day from nan memoir’s publicity, a determination improbable to please nan erstwhile king’s wallet. 

Public sentiment sways some ways

Reactions to his removal uncover Spain’s enduring ambivalence toward nan monarchy. Broadsheets specified arsenic El País framed nan determination arsenic an enactment of prudence, while overseas media, including The Telegraph, led pinch nan header “Spain bans exiled king from attending his coronation anniversary.”

Online, nan statement has reignited aged divisions: republicans spot nan snub arsenic overdue accountability, royalists arsenic unnecessary humiliation. While nary charismatic polls person been published successful years, independent studies bespeak that nationalist sentiment still leans towards nan monarchy – astir six successful 10 Spaniards – though assurance has yet to afloat recover.

Half a period balancing some sides of nan coin

For galore Spaniards, nan commemoration is little astir royal pageantry than astir 5 decades of law continuity. The image Felipe VI presiding without his begetter astatine his broadside captures a observant balancing enactment – honouring history while looking beyond it.