Spanish Royalty in Crisis after King’s Antics

Spiegel Online International reported on 23 April 2012 that the Spanish royal family was in the middle of its worst crisis in years following a series of scandals, including the revelation that King Juan Carlos went on an extravagant trip to Africa despite the recession. Many people in Spain were asking tough questions about the role of the monarchy.

Some of the related hyperlinks also cover a challenge to the Spanish Royal Family in 2014 when Princess Cristina, the youngest daughter of King Juan Carlos, was asked to appear in court over allegations of money laundering and tax fraud in a case also involving her husband Inaki Urdangarin.

• Primary Source

BBC News, 18.4.12: Spain King Juan Carlos sorry for Botswana hunt trip http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17752983

The Telegraph, 16.4.12: King of Spain faces calls to abdicate after elephant hunt http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/9207280/King-of-Spain-faces-calls-to-abdicate-after-elephant-hunt.html

The Guardian, 18.4.12: Spain's king apologises for jetting off to shoot elephants http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/18/spain-king-apologises-shooting-elephants

Time, 12.4.12: Why Juan Carlos' Reign in Spain Has Become a Royal Pain http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2111844,00.html?iid=ent-main-mostpop2

The Irish Times, 21.4.12: Spaniards in crisis no longer tolerate safaris and frivolities of an out-of-touch king http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2012/0421/1224315007267.html

El País, 19.4.12: Royal apology means a “change of course” in king’s agenda http://elpais.com/elpais/2012/04/19/inenglish/1334834492_440344.html

Wikipedia: Spanish Royal Family http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Royal_Family

El País, 10.01.14: Legal team studies whether to allow Princess Cristina to testify http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/01/10/inenglish/1389379502_038829.html

BBC News, 08.01.14: Spanish fraud case batters image of monarchy http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25647060

Financial Times, 09.01.14: Spanish monarchy in profound crisis (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE136320-Spanish-monarchy-in-profound-crisis

The Local.es, 13.01.14: Judge brings forward court date for princess http://www.thelocal.es/20140113/judge-brings-forward-court-date-for-innocent-princess

El País, 13.01.14: Princess Cristina’s appearance before Nóos case judge brought forward to February 8 http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/01/13/inenglish/1389617271_425816.html

The Local.es, 15.01.14: Spain's 'Prince Charming' could revive monarchy http://www.thelocal.es/20140115/spanish-princes-star-rises-as-monarchy-stumbles

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