A relationship of convenience
Emeritus kings John Charles I and Sofia were never in love. Their relationship was always a strategic alliance to achieve their goals. According to various specialized chroniclers, their union was a sham for the gallery, intended to keep up appearances in front of the public. In reality, they only had bed relations until they conceived their son Felipe. His only goal was to have an heir to the crown. After achieving this goal in the third attempt, they stopped having intimacy.
Interference in your child’s relationships
Despite the fact that their own relationship was a failure, Joan Carles and Sofia did not stop conditioning the love life of their son Felip. They intervened in several relationships, such as the one he had with Eva Sannum. According to Jaime Peñafiel’s insinuations, it was speculated that the monarchy influenced Eva away from Felipe. This interference was another example of how their relationship was not a model to follow (https://www.softcatala.org/resum-de-textos-en-catala/).
The relationship with Queen Letícia
Feeling guilty for the mistakes made in their son’s previous relationships, the kings emeritus decided to stay away from their relationship with Letícia. Although they did not see the Asturian journalist with good eyes because of her plebeian origin and because she was a divorced woman, they allowed Felipe to establish a relationship with her. They did not financially support the relationship and believed it would not last. However, they were surprised when Felipe decided to get engaged to Letícia. This decision took Joan Carles by surprise, who found out through a statement from Zarzuela while he was hunting.
The reaction of John Charles I and Sofia
When Joan Carles learned of Felipe’s decision, he became angry and quickly went to Zarzuela. There, in Sofia’s presence, he pressured his son not to carry out the engagement. However, Philip refused to back down. This situation led to a tense scene in which Queen Sofia ended up in tears at Philip’s threats to abdicate. However, he decided to support his son in this decision.
The denouement
After this episode, John Charles I went to New York to have dinner with Woody Allen while the parade of the armed forces was being held in Spain. This attitude was seen as a sign of capriciousness and immaturity. Despite his attempts to dissuade Felip, he ended up committing to Letícia and Joan Carles had no choice but to accept it.