A family exile thousands of kilometers away
After his forced departure from Palma de Mallorca in 2019, Joan Carlos I has found himself far from his loved ones, settling in Abu Dhabi. His absence from Spanish institutions, such as Zarzuela and Marivent, has become a symbol of the break between the monarch emeritus and his family.
The family council: a strategic distancing
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia have chosen to align their image with the distancing of the Bourbon surname. This decision not only seeks stability for his reign, but also protects the future of Infanta Leonor. The daughters of the emeritus monarch avoid their association with the figure of their grandfather, a fact that has marked the family dynamic.
Sporadic visits and a compromised state of health
Despite the physical and emotional distance, things have not always been this way. Joan Carlos I has made frequent trips to Spain, both in Sanxenxo, where he settled in the house of his friend Pedro Campos, and in Vitoria to receive medical attention. This is in contrast to his delicate state of health, which has required innovative treatments to ease the pain in his joints.
A portrait of a life marked by the accident
After an accident in Botswana in 2012, the health of John Charles I has suffered a major deterioration. The loss of mobility has meant that he is always accompanied by an assistant and that he uses a cane, although he often moves around in a wheelchair in privacy. This need to maintain a dynamic public image has influenced the way he manages pain.
The pressure on Felipe VI
The current king, Philip VI, is faced with a dilemma that demands a quick decision. Reports of her father’s health, along with family pressures, could force a change in her stance. Infants Cristina and Elena are the ones most monitoring the situation and have expressed their desire to have their father close, worried about the long journeys he has to make.
The urgency of a new approach
As the health of John Charles I continues to deteriorate, the tension within the royal family intensifies. Felipe VI has maintained constant contact with the staff caring for his father but is reluctant to make significant changes until the situation becomes unsustainable. The horizon of this imminent decision is presented as time runs out.