The emeritus settled in Abu Dhabi in 2020 and spent a year without visiting Spanish territory
Emeritus King John Charles I left for Abu Dhabi in the summer of 2020, after several scandals broke out over his wealth and relationships. He was more than twelve months without appearing in Spain, waiting for the situation to calm down. Finally, in the spring of 2022, he decided to set foot on peninsular soil again.
His first visit upset Zarzuela, who imposed conditions on him
But that return was not well received by Zarzuela. Not so much for his stay in Spain as for the noise he generated. Then Kings Felipe VI and Letizia intervened, requiring the ex-monarch to apply for permission each time he wanted to come and, should he obtain it, to keep a low and silent profile.
John Charles I obeyed and regained the trust of his son, who lifted the ‘veto’
John Charles I complied. His subsequent trips to Spain no longer aroused so much curiosity. He appeared very little in public and did not speak to the media. Little by little he gained his son’s trust, to the point where the ‘veto’ was lifted. He no longer needed to notify me every time he came. A situation that took advantage of the emeritus to increase the frequency of his visits to Spain.
John Charles I plans to return to Spain in the coming days, to compete in sailing
So, Joan Carlos I plans to return to Spain in the coming days, on the occasion of the Class 6m sailing competition that will take place in Sanxenxo from March 14 to 17. He plans to participate with his boat ‘El Bribón’. It will be the first time he returns to Spain after going to the 60th birthday party of the Infanta Elena, celebrated last December 20 in Madrid.
Zarzuela forbids him to attend his nephew’s funeral, and sends him flying back
However, this is not the first visit that Juan Carlos I had planned this year. The emeritus wanted to be present at the funeral mass of Fernando Gómez-Acebo y Borbó, son of Infanta María Pilar de Borbón and nephew of the emeritus, who died last Saturday at the age of 49. He had even prepared a plane to go to Madrid. But from Zarzuela they prevented him from going there. They told him when they heard about their plans, with the ex-monarch in full flight. They didn’t want John Charles I to grab all the attention at such a sad time. In addition, it is one thing that the ‘veto’ has been lifted, and quite another for him to walk around Spain as if nothing had happened. Things haven’t calmed down that much for that.
So and with the plane in the air, the pilot had to change course, setting the destination in Bahrain, where Joan Carlos I planned to go after the funeral to see the first Formula 1 GP of this season.