MADRID: Former King of Spain Juan Carlos I, Former Queen of Spain Sofia, their son Spain’s King Felipe VI and his wife Queen Letizia wait for their guests during the Epiphany Day celebrations at the Royal Palace on Saturday.—Reuters
MADRID: Former King of Spain Juan Carlos I, Former Queen of Spain Sofia, their son Spain’s King Felipe VI and his wife Queen Letizia wait for their guests during the Epiphany Day celebrations at the Royal Palace on Saturday.—Reuters

MADRID: Spanish King Felipe VI on Saturday paid homage to his father Juan Carlos as the former monarch, fresh from celebrating his 80th birthday, made a public comeback after complaining bitterly of being left on the sidelines.

Appearing in full military garb alongside his son, Queen Letizia and his wife Sofia at the royal palace in Madrid, Juan Carlos met Spain’s army, navy and air force chiefs at a traditional military ceremony held at the start of every year.

The show of unity comes at a trying time for Spain after the wealthy Catalan region attempted to break away, and where 47 per cent of voters want to live in an independent, monarchy-free republic.

It also puts Juan Carlos, credited for leading Spain to democracy after decades of dictatorship but who abdicated in 2014 after a series of scandals, back on the public scene.

Felipe congratulated his father on turning 80 on Friday, drawing a smile from the elderly former monarch, who now walks with a stick.

“Congratulations your majesty and thank you also for so many years of loyal service to Spain,” he said, asPrime Minister Mariano Rajoy and his defence and interior ministers looked on.

Widely lauded for his negotiating skills, political acumen and his role in defusing an attempted coup in 1981, Juan Carlos fell from grace during Spain’s economic crisis as his lavish lifestyle drew anger.

Adding fuel to fire, his daughter Princess Cristina and her husband Inaki Urdangarin were embroiled in a corruption and tax fraud investigation, with the latter since found guilty of siphoning off millions to fund a lavish lifestyle. Cristina was acquitted.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.