Summer holidays in Palma de Mallorca 2008

[lula]

Dinner of the Royal Family in the restaurant Port Portals of Palma

Cena de la Familia Real en el restaurante Puerto Portals de Palma de Mallorca - Agencia Prisma

[Duke of Marmalade]

Letizia probably went back to Madrid to see some Ortiz Rocasolano family members but it's another step up re the non-interaction of previous years. It's a bit sad because given the parents don't seem to be keen to spend time together the children won't meet either. The other six nephews and nieces obviously have a great relationship but the Asturias girls are rarely around although Irene and Leonor are the same age. Felipe is Victoria's godfather, would have been nice to see the younger generation spend time at the beach together incl children.

[LadyFinn]

I think that Letizia and her daughters waited in Madrid for Felipe, who arrived yesterday from Beijing and leaves now to Paraguay. It´s only natural that he wanted to see his daughters, having not seen them for almost a week.

[donnaK]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

Letizia probably went back to Madrid to see some Ortiz Rocasolano family members but it's another step up re the non-interaction of previous years. It's a bit sad because given the parents don't seem to be keen to spend time together the children won't meet either. The other six nephews and nieces obviously have a great relationship but the Asturias girls are rarely around although Irene and Leonor are the same age. Felipe is Victoria's godfather, would have been nice to see the younger generation spend time at the beach together incl children.

Felipe, Letizia and the girls sitting on a public beach with swim wears like your neighbor Mr. and Mrs. ? You got to be kidding. I think the Infantas' outing on a public beach probably would be unthinkable a few years ago, but now it doesn't matter any more since they are no longer on the front of the media interests. Froilan and Vickie were quite close to Leonor from the old pictures. As LadyFinn just said, I also believe Letizia and the girls were in Madrid waiting for Felipe and spent some time with him before his South American trip.

[lula]

Evidently the Princes cannot appear in a beach public and full of people, with luck in the discreet one and of difficult access. The Queen is in the ship in these photos, but she does not go down to the beach. Not only it is a question of press Donna, is a question of reaction of the people and of protocols of safety.

The wedding of the Prince and the birth of his daughters has supposed for the Infantas the beginning of the natural process that takes place in all the Royal Families. The Infanta Elena and Cristina are going on to a background, their official activities and their responsibilities have diminished, and now they move with more freedom. In case of the vacations this means that the Princes and their daughters are forced to form a part of the " circus of the ditches ", and only when this one finishes they have free time; and that the Infantas flee of this circus, and they enjoy Mallorca when everything is calmer.

In certain press, before same circumstances the speech changes totally.

While the Queen and the Infanta Cristina invite every year relatives or friends to Marivent or to the Fortuna ... it would be a scandal in case of the Princess, to whom already it seems that they don´t allow to go to Asturias with her family (Leonor is 3 years old and there is no photo of her in the place where her mother was born and where from her parents receive the Princes' title).

The Infanta Cristina inviting her friends and their children in the royal yacht, it is a very nice, very simple and natural image ... if the Princes sail in the Fortuna, they are spending the public money in the caprice of the yacht.

When the Princess in her first two years of marriage passed 5 days in house of her grandmother in Asturias, after having been in Mallorca, they accused her of wanting to displace the royal vacations to Mallorca and of finishing with the economy of the Balearic Islands. The Infantas can go to the Pyrenees, Lanzarote, Croatia, Hamptons or Mozambique, that nobody will accuse them of it.

If the Prince decides not to take part in a ditch it is a scandal and a tragedy that will finish with the economy of Mallorca. If the Infantas stop competing or do not appear for the nautical club ... nothing happens.

[acdc1]

I would like to see the Princes of Asturias and their daughters with the rest of the family, but I realize that they are in a much different position than the Infantas Elena and Cristina. They really can't go out on a public beach like everyone else can. I'm sure this will also be the case in 35 years, when the heir to the throne can't do things like this, but other siblings can.

[donnaK]

I remember a few years ago (before Felipe got married) Elena and Jaime were being heavily criticized when they spent their holidays in Hampton instead of cheering for the regatas in Mallorca. Now Felipe is married with two kids, the Infantas are more to the background, have more freedom to move around and do what they want to do. I believe that Felipe and Letizia no longer spent the summer holiday at her grandma's house after Leonor was born is strictly their own personal reason, nothing to do with any media pressure. Maybe her grandma's house is too small for them (kids + nanny + bodyguards) or other security issues.

[lula]

Yes, the trips to the Hamptons, it was another epoch, then the Infantas or probably more their children had more interest, neither Letizia, nor Leonor nor Sofia existed. In any case, the critiques were never so ferocious. Curiously, this year and in spite of the separation the press does not judge where she has been or not.

On the visits to Asturias, it is true that the house of her grandmother was remaining small, and that the abuse of the press in showing this house made less safety. But in Asturias there are houses of rent, there are hotels and friends ready to lodge them. Last year Zapatero passed one week of vacations in Asturias. So there has to be something more.

[Winnie]

Originally Posted by lula

Yes, the trips to the Hamptons, it was another epoch, then the Infantas or probably more their children had more interest, neither Letizia, nor Leonor nor Sofia existed. In any case, the critiques were never so ferocious. Curiously, this year and in spite of the separation the press does not judge where she has been or not.

On the visits to Asturias, it is true that the house of her grandmother was remaining small, and that the abuse of the press in showing this house made less safety. But in Asturias there are houses of rent, there are hotels and friends ready to lodge them. Last year Zapatero passed one week of vacations in Asturias. So there has to be something more.

Sure there is something more -- they are doing exactly what they want to do -- nothing more, nothing less. Good for them.

[Duke of Marmalade]

When I said "beach" I meant the whole scenario of the Infantas pictures including the yacht. I understand the security issue but they (all cousins or even the adults) could at least spend time together on the Fortuna. IMO not all is well between the siblings as the years before have shown and I see it as a personal decision of the Princes / Infantas not to spend time together and not as a result down to inconvenience or security matters.

Very different to the not-going-to-Asturias-issue, as lula said there must be more to it than only a personal decision. IMO Zarzuela want to avoid a (visible) link between Infanta Leonor and Asturias at this stage regarding her role as heiress to the throne, with the succession issue and the Asturias' family planning far from over.

This whole double standard thing build up by media pressure is really disgusting.

[acdc1]

http://www.prismanews.com/spip.php?article3669

Here is a gallery of Iñaki Urdangarin, with Juan, Pablo, Miguel, and Froilan, I think going on a boat. Miguel is wearing the dreaded Crocs!

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by Winnie

Sure there is something more -- they are doing exactly what they want to do -- nothing more, nothing less. Good for them.

Felipe & Letizia do exactly what Zarzuela or the King want them to do and if they are lucky it matches with their own ideas - and it seems that there is no match re vacations in Asturias ...

[Carminha Stalker]

Somehow, children (and some adults) seem to like that kind of footwear. It´s very popular here too. But I agree with you, it´s not very appealing.

[TLLK]

LOL! Crocs are ugly, but my children love the comfort and the colors.

[donnaK]

Felipe and Letizia haven't taken Leonor to Covadonga yet, that's probably the decision of Zarzuela since the sucession law hasn't been officially changed. On private holidays after the sailing, I don't think Zarzuela stopped them going to Asturias. Felipe when single usually travelled abroad with his friends after the sailing events in August, now he is married, he and Letizia likely still keep this 'tradition'. It said before both liked the exotic places, August is about the only time in the year they can travel to the places far away from Spain. Asturias is very close by, they can spend the weekends or long weekends there. The Asturian press had reported once that they were spotted at a gas station in Asturias, I also heard Laura Ponte said that the first time she met Letizia (with Felipe) was in Asturias when she was still dating Felipe. Not seeing them at her grandma's house really doesn't mean they didn't go to Asturias.

[Winnie]

Originally Posted by donnaK

Felipe and Letizia haven't taken Leonor to Covadonga yet, that's probably the decision of Zarzuela since the sucession law hasn't been officially changed. On private holidays after the sailing, I don't think Zarzuela stopped them going to Asturias. Felipe when single usually travelled abroad with his friends after the sailing events in August, now he is married, he and Letizia likely still keep this 'tradition'. It said before both liked the exotic places, August is about the only time in the year they can travel to the places far away from Spain. Asturias is very close by, they can spend the weekends or long weekends there. The Asturian press had reported once that they were spotted at a gas station in Asturias, I also heard Laura Ponte said that the first time she met Letizia (with Felipe) was in Asturias when she was still dating Felipe. Not seeing them at her grandma's house really doesn't mean they didn't go to Asturias.

I think you are correct. They probably want to spend time the way they want to (with permission, of course) as a personal family vacation. I personally wouldn't want to spend all my vacations with my sister and brother and parents and all their gang when I see them on holidays (Christmas & Easter). As much as I love them all -- enough is enough. I need just my personal intimate family unit.

[Winnie]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

Felipe & Letizia do exactly what Zarzuela or the King want them to do and if they are lucky it matches with their own ideas - and it seems that there is no match re vacations in Asturias ...

Oh I am sure that behind closed doors, Felipe has quite a bit to say about how he can spend a week or so with his personal family unit. He sees enough of his birth family on holidays that vacation time is probably very special to him. It would grate on most people if they HAD to have their vacation time spent at exactly the same place with exactly the same people (and siblings to boot) every year. Would make a lesser person take to the bottle.

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by Winnie

Oh I am sure that behind closed doors, Felipe has quite a bit to say about how he can spend a week or so with his personal family unit. He sees enough of his birth family on holidays that vacation time is probably very special to him. It would grate on most people if they HAD to have their vacation time spent at exactly the same place with exactly the same people (and siblings to boot) every year. Would make a lesser person take to the bottle.

Felipe knows exactly what he can do and what he can't do - he has been groomed to become heir by his parents all his life. I believe in the beginning he had to explain a lot to Letizia who probably thought that they had more freedom of decision. Zarzuela or the King will always have the last say in everthing that could have only the slightest impact on the image of the monarchy, including going to Asturias with the kids as it has a deeper meaning. Of course all heirs will finally do what they are told by their reigning parents but the spanish have an extremely short leash as their monarchy is one of the most unstable ones.

[donnaK]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

Felipe knows exactly what he can do and what he can't do - he has been groomed to become heir by his parents all his life. I believe in the beginning he had to explain a lot to Letizia who probably thought that they had more freedom of decision. Zarzuela or the King will always have the last say in everthing that could have only the slightest impact on the image of the monarchy, including going to Asturias with the kids as it has a deeper meaning. Of course all heirs will finally do what they are told by their reigning parents but the spanish have an extremely short leash as their monarchy is one of the most unstable ones.

I think it has more to do with JC's personality (he seems to me a very controlling and dominating person) and he has a full control of the SRF's finance. If the Princes and Infantas were receiving the money directly from the State instead of from their father, I think the working relationship between the Kings and the Princes would be more like Buckingham Palace and Clarence House. On the other hand, JC even though has a final say on the official events and the SRF's 'official' vacation destination, however I do think the Princes have the freedom to decide where to spend their private holidays in August. Letizia's desire of spending summer holidays in Asturias was an exaggeration from the media. When she was single, she also travelled abroad for summer holidays, sometimes visited Telma in various countries where Telma was working, now Letizia is married, she only wants to spend summers in Asturias with her grandma LOL.

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by donnaK

I think it has more to do with JC's personality (he seems to me a very controlling and dominating person) and he has a full control of the SRF's finance. If the Princes and Infantas were receiving the money directly from the State instead of from their father, I think the working relationship between the Kings and the Princes would be more like Buckingham Palace and Clarence House.

I agree. I think the Dutch CPs have a good solution with their own budget but without a second "household" like the British have as the existence of both BP & CH has proven difficult at times, JC is wise to avoid such a scenario. I'd like to see at least the Princes have their own budget, the Infantas are a different story.

On the other hand, JC even though has a final say on the official events and the SRF's 'official' vacation destination, however I do think the Princes have the freedom to decide where to spend their private holidays in August. Letizia's desire of spending summer holidays in Asturias was an exaggeration from the media. When she was single, she also travelled abroad for summer holidays, sometimes visited Telma in various countries where Telma was working, now Letizia is married, she only wants to spend summers in Asturias with her grandma LOL.

Also agree. I was only referring to vacation in "monarchic interest" which Majorca is without doubt. I don't think Letizia is too keen to spend some precious private time in Asturias during vacation as it wouldn't be private at all, and rather prefer a destination away from the public eye. However, in the past she has said that she is keen to take the girls to Asturias, she even mentioned it in her speech when accepting the "Favourite Daughter" honours, but JC will probably have put those plans on hold for now until the succession issue has been fully resolved (either by law or by Letizia's age).