Relationships between the members of the Spanish Royal Family

[magnik]

Originally Posted by carinthia

I'm sorry once again...just have a look at these pics...that marriage is losing more and more..........

Why? Only because of some photos or videos? That's not a proof.

[AnaC]

Originally Posted by magnik

Why? Only because of some photos or videos? That's not a proof.

What pictures and video does she mean? I really don't find anything weird in the photos or videos I've seen

[AnaC]

Originally Posted by donnaK

Why always Letizia ? Felipe could be the one having issues with his own family, especially his father who is the real control freak of the family (not Letizia for sure IMO). King's camp haven't been too thrilled about Felipe's actively involvement with the duties when the King was not healthy last year, they have been compaining that he was overly exposed, it should be 'more king, less prince', I guess we are going to see that this year .
Anyway I saw Felipe has been more enthusiastic about his own acts than tagging along his father's, which is perfectly understandable for a man his age.

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/1482/108023271.jpg
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/1488/108023288.jpg
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/402...627losreye.jpg

I've also read more than once that Felipe has a complicated relationship with his father because he doesn't agree with the way the King has sometimes treated Sofía.
In any case, I don't see how any problems Juan Carlos may have with Letizia (something we've never seen in public, it's just suppositions and hearsay) could affect their marriage too badly. Many persons have problems with their in-laws and couples everywhere survive it

[magnik]

Originally Posted by AnaC

What pictures and video does she mean? I really don't find anything weird in the photos or videos I've seen

Maybe these when Felipe and Letizia aren't smile to each other or turn their head on different ways or maybe rumours on yellow papers
or something like that I suppose... Who knows?
Btw AnaC I don't find them too.

[Susan D]

Originally Posted by donnaK

Why always Letizia ? Felipe could be the one having issues with his own family, especially his father who is the real control freak of the family (not Letizia for sure IMO). King's camp haven't been too thrilled about Felipe's actively involvement with the duties when the King was not healthy last year, they have been compaining that he was overly exposed, it should be 'more king, less prince', I guess we are going to see that this year .
Anyway I saw Felipe has been more enthusiastic about his own acts than tagging along his father's, which is perfectly understandable for a man his age.

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/1482/108023271.jpg
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/1488/108023288.jpg
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/402...627losreye.jpg

I do not believe that King Juan Carlos is a control freak because he has Letizia in the family and ... after Don Felipe had been expected to marry a princess of some kind.

[donnaK]

Originally Posted by AnaC

I've also read more than once that Felipe has a complicated relationship with his father because he doesn't agree with the way the King has sometimes treated Sofía.
In any case, I don't see how any problems Juan Carlos may have with Letizia (something we've never seen in public, it's just suppositions and hearsay) could affect their marriage too badly. Many persons have problems with their in-laws and couples everywhere survive it

Perhaps I didn't make myself clearly in the previous post. I thought Felipe looked more serious and quieter than the last two events with his parents than his own events with Letizia. If he was not in good mood, I don't think it had anything to do with Letizia, more likely due to the disagreements with his father recently IMO. During the last month or so, King's camp had been criticizing him grabbing too much spotlight due to his father's illness.

This article confirmed many things I thought of the family.
original: Más Rey, menos Príncipe - La Nueva España - Diario Independiente de Asturias
translated: Google Translate

Originally Posted by Susan D

I do not believe that King Juan Carlos is a control freak because he has Letizia in the family and ... after Don Felipe had been expected to marry a princess of some kind.

That's his personality, nothing to do with Letizia or anyone else.

[An Ard Ri]

I wonder what sort of a relationship the King has with his two sisters?

We rarely ever see them all together,their almost never present at Official Dinners or during State Visits. An example is Princess Astrid of Norway (The Kings older sister) is nearly always present during Norwegian State Visits & Gala Dinners,but in Spain we never see the older Infantas & very rarely either of the King's daughters.Its always The King,Queen,Prince & Princess,which is very boring .....

I find the Spanish Royal Family strange in that respect.

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

I wonder what sort of a relationship the King has with his two sisters?

We rarely ever see them all together,their almost never present at Official Dinners or during State Visits. An example is Princess Astrid of Norway (The Kings older sister) is nearly always present during Norwegian State Visits & Gala Dinners,but in Spain we never see the older Infantas & very rarely either of the King's daughters.Its always The King,Queen,Prince & Princess,which is very boring .....

I find the Spanish Royal Family strange in that respect.

I think they all know their place and get along well in that sense. Juan Carlos chose Infanta Margarita as his walker when attending his son's wedding. He could have chosen somebody else, eg Letizia's mother but he didnt.

Sofia seems to be quite close to her SILs. They attend cultural events together from time to time and both sisters openly backed Sofia's controversial conservative views published in her biography.

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

I think they all know their place and get along well in that sense. Juan Carlos chose Infanta Margarita as his walker when attending his son's wedding. He could have chosen somebody else, eg Letizia's mother but he didnt.

Sofia seems to be quite close to her SILs. They attend cultural events together from time to time and both sisters openly backed Sofia's controversial conservative views published in her biography.

Thanks for your reply Duke

The King walked with the Infanta Pilar at Felipe's Wedding,Margarita walked with her husband,but that was 7 years ago

We do often see Queen Sofia with Pilar & Sofia,but very rarely The King.I just found it odd that he never invites them to Royal events & why is it always The King,Queen,Prince & Princess.I can't remember the last time I saw Elena either at a Gala Dinner in honour of a Foreign dignitary or Royal guest.

When you look at other Royal Families they don't exclude the older members (eg Princess Lillian of Sweden up until recently,Pss Astrid of Norway ect)

I just find that rather strange that the Infantas are almost never present at Gala's/Banquets ect!

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

Thanks for your reply Duke

The King walked with the Infanta Pilar at Felipe's Wedding,Margarita walked with her husband,but that was 7 years ago

We do often see Queen Sofia with Pilar & Sofia,but very rarely The King.I just found it odd that he never invites them to Royal events & why is it always The King,Queen,Prince & Princess.I can't remember the last time I saw Elena either at a Gala Dinner in honour of a Foreign dignitary or Royal guest.

When you look at other Royal Families they don't exclude the older members (eg Princess Lillian of Sweden up until recently,Pss Astrid of Norway ect)

I just find that rather strange that the Infantas are almost never present at Gala's/Banquets ect!

Sorry I had a typo, meant Pilar of course. I think Kings & Princes are core SRF, doesnt have to do something with relations, just the way its being done, focus on the most important ones. I dont think we will see much more of Elena or Cristina with Felipe as King. M&P only appear when personal relations to guests come into play or personal interest related to a specific cause.

It remains to be seen if this policy can be upheld once the Kings are too old or gone with F&L the only core members available for events, Leonor & Sofia still to young for duty.

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

Sorry I had a typo, meant Pilar of course. I think Kings & Princes are core SRF, doesnt have to do something with relations, just the way its being done, focus on the most important ones. I dont think we will see much more of Elena or Cristina with Felipe as King. M&P only appear when personal relations to guests come into play or personal interest related to a specific cause.

It remains to be seen if this policy can be upheld once the Kings are too old or gone with F&L the only core members available for events, Leonor & Sofia still to young for duty.

Again thanks for your reply.

I think thats a pity,just keeping events limited to The King,Queen,Prince & Princess is rather boring .Can you imagine The British Queen just inviting Philip,Charles & Camilla to state events & ignoring the rest of the royal Family.

Its still very odd to me

[donnaK]

When JC ascended to the throne, he (some said it was Sofia's idea, but I'm not sure about it) excluded his two sisters from the royal family, he only wanted the royal family to include his wife and kids (I think Charles also likes this idea). Infanta Pilar and Margarita are only members of the King's family, not royal family. Now it's too late to change the rule for Elena or Cristina in the future when Felipe becomes King.

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by donnaK

When JC ascended to the throne, he (some said it was Sofia's idea, but I'm not sure about it) excluded his two sisters from the royal family, he only wanted the royal family to include his wife and kids (I think Charles also likes this idea). Infanta Pilar and Margarita are only members of the King's family, not royal family. Now it's too late to change the rule for Elena or Cristina in the future when Felipe becomes King.

I'm not doubting you but I've never heard that before.The Infantas Pilar & Margarita did their fair share of attending official functions/gala dinners at the Palace when the King's children were younger.

Both of his sisters are excluded from the Spanish Succession as they renounced their rights prior to marriage.

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by donnaK

When JC ascended to the throne, he (some said it was Sofia's idea, but I'm not sure about it) excluded his two sisters from the royal family, he only wanted the royal family to include his wife and kids (I think Charles also likes this idea). Infanta Pilar and Margarita are only members of the King's family, not royal family. Now it's too late to change the rule for Elena or Cristina in the future when Felipe becomes King.

I have no doubt that you are right and that Cristina & Elena will stop being members of the SRF when Felipe becomes King, even more so since their relation seems strained. But on the other hand, it will be impossible to keep up with the current amount of events when JC is gone (thats a fact when Felipe is King) and the Queen very likely too old to be an active member. At least 20 years will pass until Leonor will resume duties after finishing her education, thats a long time. And who knows what type Sofia will be, embracing duty or being rather reluctant, wanting her own life. Not sure a one-couple-show will be enough to keep things going at the same pace the public and media are used to these days. Having to slow down is never a good thing.

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

I have no doubt that you are right and that Cristina & Elena will stop being members of the SRF when Felipe becomes King, even more so since their relation seems strained. But on the other hand, it will be impossible to keep up with the current amount of events when JC is gone (thats a fact when Felipe is King) and the Queen very likely too old to be an active member. At least 20 years will pass until Leonor will resume duties after finishing her education, thats a long time. And who knows what type Sofia will be, embracing duty or being rather reluctant, wanting her own life. Not sure a one-couple-show will be enough to keep things going at the same pace the public and media are used to these days. Having to slow down is never a good thing.

Very good points Duke.

Exactly a one couple is more or less The President & his Wife!

Other Royal families don't just rely on the The Monarch/Consort/Crown Prince/Princess they involve the other siblings too.

Personally I've become very bored with The Spanish Royal Family & the same old routine of The King,Queen,Prince & Princess,I'm pretty sure I'm not alone there either!

[donnaK]

Duke, they don't have to keep up with the exact number of events they have right now. Likely Felipe and Letizia would have more individual events. I also think Sofia will be good for at least 15 years like her greek cousin in England. If not, Elena and Cristina might step in for some events that belonged to their mom (ex. Sofia's foundation). Thus I don't think Felipe, Letizia and Sofia would do less than JC, Sofia, Pilar and Margarita when Felipe and the infantas were still kids.

[Duke of Marmalade]

Thanks for your responses, everybody

I just thought that they have taken on an immense agenda in the past years, be present everywhere in order to make yourself indespensable. Its a strategy that is being upheld by 2 couples plus Infantas here and there. Depending on what happens with the Kings, especially with Sofia, it would have to be reduced significantly - I dont think that JC, Sofia and Kings' sisters did remotely as many events as today when Felipe and his sisters were unable to perform duty - times & media have changed.

[An Ard Ri]

This is a very interesting thread!

I really wish the Infantas were more 'involved' with Royal Functions/Visits & showed us a more united Royal Family,then rumours of a 'royal rift' would soon vanish.I don't know who's to blame,The King for allowing this to happen or the Infantas for not being more active for the Royal Family.If they don't want that role they should give up the title of Infanta de España!!


I do think the role the Infantas play in the Royal Family is vital & when the King does pass away they should do more to aid their brother & support him in his role as Monarch.

Well that's just my thoughts

[LadyFinn]

Today Letizia and Cristina acted very warmly:
DiarioFemenino
Daylife
BelgaPicture

[An Ard Ri]

According to this story The Infanta Pilar did not attend the annual Christmas get together at Zarzuela,its the first year she has done so.

LO QUE YO TE DIGA: La infanta Pilar, disidente de la Nochebuena en Zarzuela | ElPulso.es