Forecasts on the horizon
The disappearance of Joan Carles de Borbó, at the age of 86, is a reality that the Royal House, the State and the media are contemplating. Law of life, inevitable. It is not a matter of speculating about the exact moment of the event or its circumstances, but it is possible to debate the protocol and preparations around this transcendent event. This is, after all, a former Head of State.
The obscurity behind the figure of the king emeritus
The figure of Joan Carles accumulates more shadows than lights, if any light still shines amid the royal darkness he has left behind. Those who defend the ex-monarch, now in self-exile, have as their prominent spokesman the writer Jaime Peñafiel, a chronicler who, at the age of 91, remains faithful to his Juancarlist creed.
Peñafiel’s staunch criticism
Jaime Peñafiel, who was removed from ‘El Mundo’ due to his connection with Jaime del Burgo, now collaborates with Eduardo Inda’s digital medium. His criticism knows no bounds when it comes to Felipe VI and Queen Letícia, describing them as figures who have distanced Juan Carlos from his historical place and his kingdom, even metaphorically speaking, to the extreme of accusing them of ‘killing’ their royal essence.
The funeral of a controversial king
The King Emeritus’ obsession is clearly the farewell he should receive when his time comes. He wants a funeral with all the state honors, hoping that part of the country will take to the streets to dismiss him, as was the case with the fascist dictator Francisco Franco. In this vision, Peñafiel sees himself honorably dismissing Joan Charles, with an absent funeral for Felipe VI.
The future according to Jaime Peñafiel
According to the writer, who should represent the Royal House in the absence of Philip VI would be Princess Eleonor. His trip to Portugal is seen as training for future tricky situations. A columnist from the same digital publication, Marina Pina, speculates that Elionor could replace her father in a future important funeral, hinting that Felipe may not want to attend his parent’s farewell.
Eleonor at the center of the rumours
Peñafiel leaves disturbing questions in the air: would Felipe VI be too embarrassed to attend? Will Queen Letícia be to blame for his absence? Only time and possibly Peñafiel’s vision will be able to answer these concerns about the future of the Spanish monarchy.
