An awkward and complicated moment
Felipe VI found himself in a very uncomfortable and complicated situation, not knowing what to say or how to act. For this reason, he decided to follow Letizia’s instructions, although it was painful for him to make that decision. He had no choice but to separate Juan Carlos from the crown if he wanted to save the crown, his reign and Leonor’s future, and, years later, subject him to the most severe public humiliation for a monarch: exile.
The illegal elephant hunting scandal
In 2012, Juan Carlos was involved in an illegal elephant hunt in Botswana. Photos of him proudly posing next to the dead animal, with a rifle and the special company of Corinna Larsen, became public. Corinna was the woman with whom the emeritus almost divorced Queen Sofia with the intention of marrying the other.
Shame and the need to protect the crown
The current king, Felipe VI, has always admired his father, but in recent years he has also felt great shame for his actions. Juan Carlos has left his son in embarrassing situations on numerous occasions, complicating his reign and the stability of the crown. To appease the public and protect the reputation of the royal family, Philip had no choice but to remove the family from him in 2012, attempting to erase any trace of damage to the crown. The Borbón surname had been tarnished.
The use of black money and exile
In addition to these problems, investigations emerged that revealed that Juan Carlos had used black money. This behavior of the former monarch was also crucial to withdraw his functions and positions, and exile him outside of Spain. Juan Carlos acted as if he were the absolute king of Spain, believing that his inviolability allowed him to do whatever he wanted instead of serving the citizens.
The moment of abdication
Felipe VI had already had to rescue his father from embarrassing situations on several occasions, drawing his attention repeatedly. It was his bodyguards who warned the current king to avoid scandals. Juan Carlos exposed himself too much. Last week marked a decade since Juan Carlos’s abdication. That day it became clear to everyone that he could no longer be king, and Philip decided to proceed with the abdication to preserve the dignity of the crown.
