Future of The Spanish Monarchy

[AnaC]

New poll after Urdangarín's mess.
Published today in El Mundo: El Mundo 2 Enero 2012 - YouKioske

76% have a good or very good opinion of the King
70% have a good or very good opinion of the Prince of Asturias
73% have a bad or very bad opinion of Iñaki Urdangarín
60% like a Monarchy for Spain, 30% don't like a Monarchy for Spain
68% think the indirect mention of Urdangarín in the King's Christmas message was adecuate. (8% don't)
88% agree it's a good idea removing Urdangarín from official activities
45% thinks the Royal Household has handled the Urdangarín scandal well, 35% don't think so.

[Kleio]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

I think I'm going to stop being a Spanish royal watcher,I've followed them for many years

A royal Family thats afraid to be Royal are sadly not worth the effort in my opinion.

Sorry if I'm late but I've just read the thread and I've been shocked... Do you really think it was such a big mistake not attending Prince Albert's wedding? Forgive me if I misunderstand and correct me if I'm wrong. Well, I just can explain to you the rumours we heard in Spain about it, because for us it was also really strange that no one attended the wedding. One of the rumours (the most spreaded, I think) it's that the relationship about The Spanish Royals and Prince Albert is not the best since in a IOC meeting, Albert said Madrid was not a good place to organize the Olympic Games because it was not a safe place (it was after the terrorist attack in Madrid in 2004) People in Spain felt very offended and I think specially the Royal Family. We've heard since that day the relationship is not very good. Who knows... It's just a rumour. But I think the relationship with Princess Caroline is very good.
Just let me remind you something: when Prince Rainier married Grace Kelly, Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofia were one of the small list of Royals who attended. Most of European Royals thought then that wedding was not worth it (the Principality of Monaco was not then as glamorous as it is now) so most of Royals thought it was not worth enough for them to attend. So do not think SRF has scorned the Principality of Monaco, that's not fair...

[Duke of Marmalade]

Whatever the reasons were, I dont think the relationship is strained as JC made an effort on crutches to attend a big boy event with Prince Albert at Monaco boat show in September 2011, at a time when he even scratched Spanish events outside Zarzuela due to his knee/foot problems.
http://cache4.asset-cache.net/xc/126...0A760B0D811297

Maybe Sofia did not forgive Albert the Olympia blow when he supported London but she is known to be professional.

The reasons remain a mystery, it seems the handling within Zarzuela was quite chaotic.

[Kleio]

Originally Posted by Kleio

Sorry if I'm late but I've just read the thread and I've been shocked... Do you really think it was such a big mistake not attending Prince Albert's wedding? Forgive me if I misunderstand and correct me if I'm wrong. Well, I just can explain to you the rumours we heard in Spain about it, because for us it was also really strange that no one attended the wedding. One of the rumours (the most spreaded, I think) it's that the relationship about The Spanish Royals and Prince Albert is not the best since in a IOC meeting, Albert said Madrid was not a good place to organize the Olympic Games because it was not a safe place (it was after the terrorist attack in Madrid in 2004) People in Spain felt very offended and I think specially the Royal Family. We've heard since that day the relationship is not very good. Who knows... It's just a rumour. But I think the relationship with Princess Caroline is very good.
Just let me remind you something: when Prince Rainier married Grace Kelly, Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofia were one of the small list of Royals who attended. Most of European Royals thought then that wedding was not worth it (the Principality of Monaco was not then as glamorous as it is now) so most of Royals thought it was not worth enough for them to attend. So do not think SRF has scorned the Principality of Monaco, that's not fair...

I've made a big mistake and I apologize!!!!! Juan Carlos and Sofia married in 1962 and Rainier and Grace in 1956, so they never attended that wedding together! I am really sorry for the mistake and I do not want to seem not rigorous!!! Please, accept all my apologize! I am so sorry!

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by Kleio

I've made a big mistake and I apologize!!!!! Juan Carlos and Sofia married in 1962 and Rainier and Grace in 1956, so they never attended that wedding together! I am really sorry for the mistake and I do not want to seem not rigorous!!! Please, accept all my apologize! I am so sorry!

It was the other way around, Grace & Rainier went to Juan Carlos & Sofia's wedding.
http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/748...2CA583692F22C8

[lula]

The king had confirmed his presence, was in the dossier of press with the important guests that the Principality published. Normally the king goes to celebrations, funerals and in this case wedding of Chiefs of State (not Crown Princes, that were other weddings).

But he suffered the operation of knee ... probably he was obstinate and thought that he might recover to go and was not like that. And into a State wedding you cannot change the representation a few days before, there are problems of safety, of protocol... As Duke says, I do not believe that they have any problem ... simply it was a circumstance.

[Kleio]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

It was the other way around, Grace & Rainier went to Juan Carlos & Sofia's wedding.
http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/748...2CA583692F22C8

Many thanks, Duke! I knew one couple had attended the other's wedding and I made a mistake! Sorry again and thanks for correcting me!

[Kleio]

Originally Posted by lula

The king had confirmed his presence, was in the dossier of press with the important guests that the Principality published. Normally the king goes to celebrations, funerals and in this case wedding of Chiefs of State (not Crown Princes, that were other weddings).

But he suffered the operation of knee ... probably he was obstinate and thought that he might recover to go and was not like that. And into a State wedding you cannot change the representation a few days before, there are problems of safety, of protocol... As Duke says, I do not believe that they have any problem ... simply it was a circumstance.

Thanks for the information, lula... I didn't know about this... I even doubted if the SRF had been invited or not because I was sure they don't do this kind of arrogant actions and I didn't know either that the protocol was so strict for not being able to change the King for the Queen, for example... Had no idea! Thanks for you remark!

[Duke of Marmalade]

ABC has got a huge pro-monarchy campaign on the way:

Seven out of ten believe that the Spanish monarchy is good for Spain
Siete de cada diez espaoles creen que la Monarqua es positiva para Espaa - ABC.es
As es el despacho en el que trabaja y recibe Don Juan Carlos - ABC.es
Don Juan Carlos, el Rey que necesita Espaa - ABC.es
Fotogallery
Los objetos que acompaan al Rey en despacho - ABC Espaa - ABC.es

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

ABC has got a huge pro-monarchy campaign on the way:

Seven out of ten believe that the Spanish monarchy is good for Spain
Siete de cada diez espaoles creen que la Monarqua es positiva para Espaa - ABC.es
As es el despacho en el que trabaja y recibe Don Juan Carlos - ABC.es
Don Juan Carlos, el Rey que necesita Espaa - ABC.es
Fotogallery
Los objetos que acompaan al Rey en despacho - ABC Espaa - ABC.es

Glad to see some positive news regarding the future of the Monarchy!

[Duke of Marmalade]

Spain's Royal Family Rocked by a Series of Legal Scandals - TIME

Spanish monarchy faces jumbo crisis
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/82360...#axzz1s7Rq4oLv

[Artemisia]

Spanish king criticized for going elephant hunting in Africa as nation reels in economic pain

Spanish newspapers were filled with accounts of how hunting trips to Botswana, where Juan Carlos fell, cost more than most Spaniards earn in a year. El Pais, Spain's leading newspaper, said the cost to arrange a hunting trip in Botswana to kill an elephant usually comes in at €44,000 ($57,850), about twice the country's average annual salary. Spain is currently perceived as the weakest link in the 17-nation eurozone, and many investors fear it could become the next country to seek an international bailout. But the country with eurozone's No. 4 economy is seen as too big to bail out. Unemployment stands at nearly 23 per cent — nearly 50 per cent for young workers — and Spain is expected to slide into its second recession in three years soon.

Newspaper El Mundo, which usually supports Spain's royalty, reported the king had been hunting elephants for four days in Botswana before he tripped and fell before dawn Friday at the chalet where he was staying. Citing royal spokesman Rafael Spottorno, El Mundo said the king had not told Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's government of his trip abroad until after the accident."The prime minister must know at all times where the head of state is," El Mundo said in an editorial.

This is not the first time the aging monarch's love of hunting has caused concern. In October 2006, a Russian governor launched an inquiry into reports that Juan Carlos had shot and killed a bear while on holiday near Moscow. Vyacheslav Pozgalyov, governor of the Vologda region northeast of Moscow, had reportedly received a letter from the region's deputy hunting chief, Sergei Starostin, claiming a bear had been fed honey mixed with vodka before being released near where the king was to hunt.

[Duke of Marmalade]

What now for Spain’s monarchy?

King Juan Carlos has apologised for hunting in Botswana while the Spanish economy was in crisis, but doubts still hang over his role and that of his family.
What now for Spain

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

What now for Spain’s monarchy?

King Juan Carlos has apologised for hunting in Botswana while the Spanish economy was in crisis, but doubts still hang over his role and that of his family.
What now for Spain

Are there mass protests against the King outside Zarzuela,unless that happens I wouldn't worry too much about the future of the Monarchy...for now

[Marengo]

Me neither An Ard Ri, the king has built up quite some credit! And on the bright side, in some odd way all the mess of late, reflects positively on the Princes of Asturias.

[Duke of Marmalade]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/28/wo...ery-again.html
Spain’s King Has Surgery Amid Debate on His Reign

[LadyFinn]

The Real Royals | Olive Press Newspaper Spain