A summer of distances and absences
Queen Sofia experiences a summer full of loneliness, a feeling that has intensified in recent years. His stay in Marivent, usual during this time, has lost its usual joy, since this year he does not have the company of his sons or daughters.
Family and sports commitments
With the Olympic Games being held in Paris, Queen Letizia and King Felipe have been forced to alternate their stays to support Spanish athletes. Thus, while Queen Sofia stayed in Marivent, King Felipe took his place in the French capital. The situation has been similar for his daughters, Leonor and Sofia, who have also been away from home to accompany their parents in this sporting event.
Moments shared with friends
Despite this loneliness, the Queen’s granddaughters have found an opportunity to enjoy their time together. Leonor and Sofia have invited some friends from their boarding school in Wales to Marivent, with whom they rented a boat for a getaway to the island of Cabrera, a place well known to the royal family. This has left Queen Sofia, who is going through delicate times, accompanied only by Irene of Greece and a few close friends.
The Shadow of Loss
Queen Sofia has recently experienced difficult situations. The loss of his brother, Constantino, and his sister Irene’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s have left a deep emotional imprint. Last Sunday, the Queen appeared in family photographs, but it was clear that her health has deteriorated as she was seen in a wheelchair, looking frail and looking lost.
An unfulfilled wish
One of the Queen’s most cherished wishes is to gather her eight grandchildren around the table. Although this idea has haunted him for years, family circumstances have prevented it from becoming a reality. The grandchildren, now in a stage of their lives full of new concerns, seem to disconnect from the figure of their grandmother.
New paths for cleaners
With Leonor already coming of age and Sofia about to do so, the two young women have begun to explore their independence. Leonor, for example, has recently obtained her driver’s license and has been seen driving around Palma de Mallorca, an experience that symbolizes her transition to adulthood. This, however, also means that they will spend less time with their grandmother, leaving her with a sense of emptiness.
Reflections on shared time
Queen Sofia watches with nostalgia as her granddaughters grow up and build their lives. Although she understands that it is a natural process, she wishes they would spend more time with her. Her absence in Marivent becomes more evident, and the queen wonders if her granddaughters will understand the importance of these moments in the future.