King Juan Carlos Retires from Public Life - May 2019

[Denville]

Originally Posted by Mbruno

As Lula said, the excuse for his participation in the event is that there will be a ceremony honoring his late mother.

I think posters here are being too harsh on King Juan Carlos. Receiving state funding and living in a royal residence after he has already retired from oubkic life is the same situation that currently applies to King Albert or Emperor Akihito. It looks to me like a fair compensation for a former Head of State who served his country for decades and was never allowed to have another job or private career.

well yes I can't quite see what he is doing that is scandalous... He's retired, so is Prince Philip.. both of them still live in royal residences and are now free to amuse themselves as they please.. within reason... and to do an occasional public event if they are asked and want to

[lula]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

Its his last official act after that he's retired from public duties but has more or less been semi retired since his abdication unlike his more energetic wife queen Sofia.

It is not an official event ... his last official event was to deliver the prize of the Royal Military Orders in El Escorial.

Inicio - Actividades y Agenda - Entrega del Premio Órdenes Españolas 2019

It is an obviously public event, but the invitation is from a private bullfighting businessman who manages that bullring. So it's a kind of invitation that is not considered official by the Royal House.

The previous private lunch has been organized by another businessman, known for having a famous nightclub in Madrid, where Elena's children often go. And the organizers have leaked all kinds of details to a journalist.

That has been and will be one of the problems of Juan Carlos, who usually accepts many invitations from friends and acquaintances, which are not always adequate and convenient.

[Duke of Marmalade]

The announcement certainly has to do with his ego, why was it necessary? So Juan Carlos has been traveling across the country attending bullfights, F1 races, going to fancy restaurants etc etc and he will continue to do so.
His 'public' events = those listed with casareal are not many. This year 7, among them 2 funerals. So it's hardly worth an official announcement. Everybody can see that his health is affected, he is over 80 and nobody expects him to work any longer.

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by lula

Relatively ... although he has no institutional activity, he will continue to receive public money, living in a state palace, and having personnel at his service ... which forces him to maintain a certain attitude of respect and prudence.

Exactly, he should only do things that do not create controversies or have negative impact on the image of the crown.
But Juan Carlos has never cared about that and he will certainly not start now.

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

The announcement certainly has to do with his ego, why was it necessary? So Juan Carlos has been traveling across the country attending bullfights, F1 races, going to fancy restaurants etc etc and he will continue to do so.
His 'public' events = those listed with casareal are not many. This year 7, among them 2 funerals. So it's hardly worth an official announcement. Everybody can see that his health is affected, he is over 80 and nobody expects him to work any longer.

He was looking particularly shook at the funeral of Grand Duke Jean in early May and it was really no major surprise and the official announcement was a bit unnecessary.

[lula]

The announcement was necessary, precisely because he goes to public events and his organizers make publicity and treat him with honor, and the photos appear in the press ... but the frivolous press never differentiates between a private event or an event in representation of the Crown. So that created many confusions and criticisms in the public opinion that damaged the Crown. Now it will be known that everything is private, and the effect on the image of the Crown will be less.

The same thing happens with Sofia, she was accustomed when she was queen to fill her agenda with some activities that were more ways to fill her free time, like classical music. Now she attends concerts that are not on the official agenda, but the press talks about it without differentiating. She also does activities with her private foundation, which are not on the official agenda, and the press talks about them as if they were. Her activities are less controversial than those of Juan Carlos and have a better press, but the problem of not differentiating institutional and private is the same.

Felipe and Letizia have always differentiated their institutional life and their private life better. And if they go to a place because they want, they pay their expenses and they are not used for publicity.

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by lula

The announcement was necessary, precisely because he goes to public events and his organizers make publicity and treat him with honor, and the photos appear in the press ... but the frivolous press never differentiates between a private event or an event in representation of the Crown. So that created many confusions and criticisms in the public opinion that damaged the Crown. Now it will be known that everything is private, and the effect on the image of the Crown will be less.

Well, maybe for the record it makes sense to say 'we've got nothing to do with what the old man is up to' but JC is still King Juan Carlos the former King of Spain in the heads of many people, and his association with the crown will be forever.
So, when he does unwise things he may do them not as part of the agenda but as a private person, but whatever he does, will be related to the public image of the crown.

In case he shoots another elephant, people will know that Felipe did not ask him to do it, retired or not. And if he meets despots in public, same thing, but nevertheless the critizism will be directed at Felipe who is unable to control or talk some sense into his father.

[lula]

Private lunch organized by businessman Pedro Trapote on his property in Aranjuez

https://www.larazon.es/gente/el-rey-...ada-PE23633419

[Winnie]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

Well, maybe for the record it makes sense to say 'we've got nothing to do with what the old man is up to' but JC is still King Juan Carlos the former King of Spain in the heads of many people, and his association with the crown will be forever.
So, when he does unwise things he may do them not as part of the agenda but as a private person, but whatever he does, will be related to the public image of the crown.

In case he shoots another elephant, people will know that Felipe did not ask him to do it, retired or not. And if he meets despots in public, same thing, but nevertheless the critizism will be directed at Felipe who is unable to control or talk some sense into his father.

Absolutely. He will not change, ever. Doesn't feel he must and will not worry if people find fault. His personality. He is not ever going to pull a Prince Philip and almost go into hiding 95%, no matter what his age is. If he again does things that are stupid for a Royal, just think "there he goes again" smack your head and pay no attention. If Felipe is blamed for his father's behavior, the members of the media of Spain really don't have strong elderly parents so can't understand. It is a normal life pattern.