King Juan Carlos Undergoes Lung Surgery in Barcelona: May 8, 2010

[Duke of Marmalade]

Exactly.
As a wife, she has always looked ahead, no matter what JC was doing behind or beside her, for the sake of the monarchy.
As a mother in law, she once told her biographer Pilar Urban, when asked what to do if one of her children could not be talked out of getting married to an unsuitable person, that the only choice was to help to make the marriage work, no matter what. That's what she has been doing, even against her own conviction, again, for the sake of the monarchy.
JC owes a lot to Sofia, even though the cracks within the family have become more amd more visible with time progressing, despite Sofia's perfect acting scills.

[biathlon22]

Originally Posted by maria-olivia

The Queen of Spain is the best actress I ever know..as wife and as mother-in-law.

This is a serious reproach.

Seems like the press has nothing serious to write during this summer. And when it comes to negative storys they love to take the spanish royals.

In my opinion Queen Sofia is one of the best Queens of her generation. She spends her whole live doing the best for her family and for spain. About her marriage we will never know what was real and what was invented by yellow press. I think there should me no more discussion about it. Over the years there are so many moments where you can see Juan Carlos and Sofia deeply intimate together. I think they have one of the strongest friendship ever.

And when it comes to the relationship of Letizia and the Infantas. I was in Stockholm during the wedding of Victoria and Daniel. I saw Letizia in front of the Grand hotel.. together with Cristina and Elena. And believe me, they had a good time together. And i´m sure this was real and not even a bit of acting.

[jjkg]

May I ask a question? (related to Sofia's acting vis-a-vis her role as mother-in-law)

OK. I get the argument that Letizia was unsuitable as Sofia's daughter-in-law because she was divorced (1 year marriage after a long courtship which appears to be her first adult relationship)

1. But does being divorced make one a bad human being, unable to form good loving relationships with others at all?
2. Does being divorced prevent one from being a good professional, able to fulfill ones public role?

All the discussion around Queen Sofia acting around Letizia is built around the initial narrative that developed with engagement was announced. Now many years have passed since the marriage. On what do we base these unsuitability arguments today? Is Letizia cheating on her marriage, is drunk, is blowhard flaunting her royal status, is not hardworking, is frivolous, is not engaged in her duties, is leaving bad impression everywhere, etc, etc, etc....?
What makes us think that it is only Queen Sofia's efforts and acting that is keeping everything together, hiding the real truth?


I buy the argument about Sofia keeping the facade of happy face w.r.t. the King and his infidelities. Infidelity strikes right at the root of a marriage. At some point in time, she must have done some soul searching and come up with a mechanism to have a joint partnership with him vis-a-vis their duty towards their country.

But on what basis are we extending this "deal" that Sofia may have made with herself to Letizia? Can someone give examples that show how Letizia has engaged in bad behavior that strikes hard at the core of what Princess of Asturias should be?

[jjkg]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

Having previously been told to stop hunting, skiing and racing his yacht, all of which are his favourite pastimes, His Majesty King Juan Carlos has now been told by his doctors that he must follow a strict health regime, and worst of all for him he has also been told to quit smoking.
As such sources say that he is increasingly feeling depressed and he is also going deaf.
The operation he underwent in Barcelona to remove a growth from his lung has left him despondent so, as a result, preparations are now being made to offload many of his diary engagements to his son, Prince Felipe de Borbon, this despite the unhappy relationship the pair are alleged to now share since his marriage to the former Letizia Ortiz.
According to Royal insiders, therein lies the problem, as she appears not to have reached an understanding with the King, or her sisters-in-law.
Their relationship this summer is allegedly one of the worst the King has ever known with the Princess Letizia not allowing her daughters Leonor and Sofia to see their cousins.
KING JUAN CARLOS TO OFFLOAD ENGAGEMENTS | Spain | Leader - News, Sport, Advertising, Property, Classifieds - Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, Costa Calida, Costa de Almeria, Spain

Duke, This gossip really, really bothers me!

A king whose whole life, whose parent's whole life, whose wife's whole life was devoted to the restoration and stabilization of monarchy in Spain would let petty family squabbles come in the way of continuation of it!!! what the heck are the authors of this article smoking????

It beggars belief!!!

sure, there must be personal tension, or not getting along between members of the family. Who amongst us all is in perfect accord with ALL our in-laws! Even if Cristina and Letizia hate the sight of one another, does that mean that their hatred is more important than the continuation of monarchy? Moreover, what kind of daughter is Cristina that she is letting petty tensions with Letizia undo the work for which her parents, grandparents sacrificed their lives? I mean she is the "ROYAL" one, she is the one who from birth had duty towards monarchy instilled in her...and now she is letting her squabbles with Letizia come in the way of it! What the heck????

[LadyK]

Okay, this train has gotten far enough off track. If you would like to discuss the relationships between members of the royal family, please use this thread. Otherwise, let's get back on the topic here-King Juan Carlos's lung surgery and his subsequent health.

[Duke of Marmalade]

casa real confirms that King Juan Carlos is in perfect health and that he has fully recovered from the operation that took place last May.

Official Statement
Reconocimiento médico anual de Su Majestad el Rey. Casa de Su Majestad el Rey de España

[Marika86]

That's a great news!! I'm happy for King Juan Carlos and his family!!

[agami.pearl]

Very good news. Maybe he will attend to the W&C wedding. I know that it's rather impossible but who knows..

[Charlotte_Aster]

Which was the last royal wedding JC attended, that was outside of Spain?

[lula]

I believe that the weddings of his niece Alexia of Greece and of his goddaughter Fleur of Wuttemberg. He does not go to weddings only to those of relatives and godchildren. So I do not believe that he goes to this wedding.

[Duke of Marmalade]

Many people said the JC didnt go to the Swedish wedding because of illness recovery but I believe he wouldnt have gone even if he had been 100% healthy. He does attend private birthdays though (eg CG of Sweden) or Jubilees (eg QEII, Thai King Bhumibol), only missed QM of Denmarks birthday due to the vulcano ash, not due to illness recovery.

[LadyFinn]

¿Qué le pasa en los ojos al Rey? | España | elmundo.es
El Mundo writes that king Juan Carlos had small bruises under his eyes today.

[AnaC]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

Many people said the JC didnt go to the Swedish wedding because of illness recovery but I believe he wouldnt have gone even if he had been 100% healthy. He does attend private birthdays though (eg CG of Sweden) or Jubilees (eg QEII, Thai King Bhumibol), only missed QM of Denmarks birthday due to the vulcano ash, not due to illness recovery.

I think you're right Duke and the only wedding he didn't attend because of his recovery was the one of Nikolaos of Greece. He didn't go to Haakon's, Willem-Alexander's or Frederick's weddings so I doubt he would have gone to Victoria's even if he was in perfect health at the time.