Relationships between Members of the Spanish Royal Family

[ClaudiaE]

Originally Posted by 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

Well is her choice. Maybe she wanted to be only with her children and grandchildren. Where is the guilt of the KJuan-Carlos or QSofia or Letizia?

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by ClaudiaE

Well is her choice. Maybe she wanted to be only with her children and grandchildren. Where is the guilt of the KJuan-Carlos or QSofia or Letizia?

I wonder if Pilar is the 'bossy older sister' ?

[dazzling]

Originally Posted by LadyFinn

Today Letizia and Cristina acted very warmly:
DiarioFemenino
Daylife
BelgaPicture

Makes one wonder of the so called tension between the two whether it does/still/ or doesn't exist. They seemed to be happy in each others presence & they were able to make one the other smile & giggle.

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by dazzling

Makes one wonder of the so called tension between the two whether it does/still/ or doesn't exist. They seemed to be happy in each others presence & they were able to make one the other smile & giggle.

Or if it was only invented by the media!

[Duke of Marmalade]

It was too obvious to be a rumour

But at some point it gets damaging and there are adults involved who need to pull themselves together for the sake of the common goal, holding on to the throne.

Very likely the tension has cooled down with Cristina in WDC and Elena leading her own life as single in combination with the excellent acting skills of the SRF.

[Duke of Marmalade]

El rey y su heredero no mantienen una buena sintona

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[Lenora]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

El rey y su heredero no mantienen una buena sintona

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If that's true it's very sad,but I hope the tensions are more imaginative and created by the media

[An Ard Ri]

History repeating itself ?

The King & his father had a very strained relationship!

I hope its not true.

[donnaK]

That's pretty much Paloma Barrientos on attack again (too predictable) after the blunders she made for the Easter. She is not a royal insider, I doubt she knows the most intimate details inside Zarzuela. In fact, she couldn't even got the most basic right. How is it possible the King or Zarzuela didn't know where the Princes went on their private holiday ? The Princes usually brought 4 bodyguards, those bodyguards need to report back to their boss in the security department.
On the other hand, Felipe and JC have never been close, mainly because of mom Sofia. It's well known that Felipe didn't like how his mom being treated by his father.

[An Ard Ri]

I believe neither of the King's sisters attended the family gathering on Christmas Eve at Zarzuela again this year.Given with whats going on I can understand their absence this year.The Infanta Pilar also didn't attend last year & stayed with her children & grandchildren at her own Madrid residence.

The last time I saw a photo of the King with either of his sisters was at Don Miguels First Holy Communion last summer & that was a group family photo!

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

I believe neither of the King's sisters attended the family gathering on Christmas Eve at Zarzuela again this year.Given with whats going on I can understand their absence this year.The Infanta Pilar also didn't attend last year & stayed with her children & grandchildren at her own Madrid residence.

The last time I saw a photo of the King with either of his sisters was at Don Miguels First Holy Communion last summer & that was a group family photo!

I recall an article where Infanta said that she hadnt spoken to her brother for a long time, he was too busy.
I think there were rumours that Elena spent Christmas Day with her aunts family, not sure if this is true.

[Kleio]

Originally Posted by donnaK

That's pretty much Paloma Barrientos on attack again (too predictable) after the blunders she made for the Easter. She is not a royal insider, I doubt she knows the most intimate details inside Zarzuela. In fact, she couldn't even got the most basic right. How is it possible the King or Zarzuela didn't know where the Princes went on their private holiday ? The Princes usually brought 4 bodyguards, those bodyguards need to report back to their boss in the security department.
On the other hand, Felipe and JC have never been close, mainly because of mom Sofia. It's well known that Felipe didn't like how his mom being treated by his father.

I don't know exactly what you meant by saying that "Felipe didn't like how his mom being treated by his father", but if we have to believe the rumours... Felipe inherited the same Borbón's tendencies as his father and his grandfather... So he wouldn't be the right one to criticize his father (at least, not anymore...)

[ANNIE_S]

Originally Posted by Kleio

I don't know exactly what you meant by saying that "Felipe didn't like how his mom being treated by his father", but if we have to believe the rumours... Felipe inherited the same Borbón's tendencies as his father and his grandfather... So he wouldn't be the right one to criticize his father (at least, not anymore...)

Errr...I think that rumour is quite difficult to believe
Some people are quite bored, I´m afraid...

[lula]

Kleio, that is something that you do not know, that comment has been expressed by many from before the wedding, how if they should wish to be like that, for the simple desire to damage. Certain press or certain forums of Internet create many absurd stories or invent many lies. For 8 years they have invented and spread all kinds of barbarities on the Princess Letizia, that has demonstrated were not true. The press publishes some absurd, but along Internet there circulate some of them that are real madnesses.

Spain is very fond of the "urban legends ", to inventing all kinds of stories on the famous persons. Normally these stories grow and grow and ultimately every person offers a version different from the same ones.

This it is a forum to share information and opinions, but not a forum of gossips, it is necessary to give information that are confirmed with a bit of seriousness.

[Kleio]

I think for some people Prince Felipe's legacy is not so difficult to believe... Appearances can be deceptive... And whether it's true or not, obviously we'll never know... But it's normal if most of people prefer to believe in fairy tales!

[ANNIE_S]

Yes, why do we keep believing fairytales when we can believe some users in any forums saying that Felipe is cheating on Letizia, without any proof?
We´re really naive, all us...

[Kleio]

Originally Posted by lula

Kleio, that is something that you do not know, that comment has been expressed by many from before the wedding, how if they should wish to be like that, for the simple desire to damage. Certain press or certain forums of Internet create many absurd stories or invent many lies. For 8 years they have invented and spread all kinds of barbarities on the Princess Letizia, that has demonstrated were not true. The press publishes some absurd, but along Internet there circulate some of them that are real madnesses.

Spain is very fond of the "urban legends ", to inventing all kinds of stories on the famous persons. Normally these stories grow and grow and ultimately every person offers a version different from the same ones.

This it is a forum to share information and opinions, but not a forum of gossips, it is necessary to give information that are confirmed with a bit of seriousness.

The least I would like to seem is not respectful and I agree that this forum is to share information and opinions. I really have never read other forums about Royalty because I always thought this was the most serious one but there's something I cannot understand... We ALL talk about things we really do NOT know: But, who of you knows the SRF personally? Or any other royal person? We speculate all the time about them! Unfortunately most of us will never meet them personally so all I can do is give my opinion or expressing what I hear or read in my country... Gossip? Probably, but is it not a gossip to say that the Infantas doesn't like Letizia or many other things? The point, in my opinion, is doing it with respect. Most of the things we talk about are just speculations... Why this fear to some matters?

[lula]

... and there are people who enjoys damaging and criticizing the others...
Princess Letizia is a good example of this... Spain believes all know her, but she really is a great unknown... we have a totally superficial portrait of gossip press, probably in many things far from reality.

I think everyone should make their own opinion based on what they see, observing and taking their own criteria... and that is not believing in fairy tales. Being in a forum of royalty, and follow the daily activities, gives much information, leading to see many of the inaccuracies and falsehoods that the press writes.

I like to watch, and when you look you see many things because there are gestures that are natural, you can not fake them. I think the look is always sincere, for better and for worse, is the look that always betrays.

[lula]

Kleio, evidently everything what we treat here is relative, I do not believe that anybody looks for the absolute truth.

But a thing is to speak about topics that press of certain seriousness has published, or to analyze photos, activities... and other one of topics that a magazine or yellow journalist or a madman in Internet has wanted to spread. There has to be a line. If in this forum, the people were writing everything what publishes the european yellow press this would be a hell of senseless gossips.

Here one can think that the Infantas and the princess (and there I also would include the Prince) have a distant relation. And they can think it because, for example, they do not share vacations, or do not make activities together... or because the infanta Cristina was putting bad face in the family photos... if one does not see them united, to conclude that the relation is not nearby is logical. It can be better or worse, or can be circumstantial... we cannot say it.

The opinions must be based on information of certain reliability, on the acts, on the images ... and each one can have a opinion and express it ... but on a base of relative seriousness. But what we cannot do is to spread rumors without any base, or using sources that we know that they have not reliability.

For example, I am expecting to see the magazines of tomorrow to know the truth. Many media have reported that the Queen and the Infanta Elena traveled to Washington. When many said that Elena was in Washington, I read in a newspaper that she was in Spain.

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by Kleio

I don't know exactly what you meant by saying that "Felipe didn't like how his mom being treated by his father", but if we have to believe the rumours... Felipe inherited the same Borbón's tendencies as his father and his grandfather... So he wouldn't be the right one to criticize his father (at least, not anymore...)

AT THIS STAGE, I have no doubt that the F&L marriage is good & happy, they have two small daughters and are often labelled as "acccomplices" which I find is true judging from pictures. After all it was Felipe who wanted Letizia to share this enormous burden with her, why would he feel to annoy her at such an early stage?

BUT, I believe that, although they were less "in love", the marriage between JC and Sofia was similar at the beginning, both married in order to pursue a "project" (something that Letizia said of her future life with Felipe, too) and to share a professional aim, the claim of the Spanish throne. I believe they were "accomplices" too, Sofia was very important for JC, she was able to charm people, incl. General Franco, and to help the cause a great deal. The time was not for "lovey dovey", but I believe that their marriage was strong and good at this stage, there is a reason why JC later called her "the great professional".

F&L are only together for less than nine years and it is yet to be seen whether the burden of the position will make or break them. Pressure over decades will make people change, and I have no doubt that Felipe will change as King, personally and professionally, like his father did. Whether the ageing consort, not born into royal life, can keep up or is allowed to keep up or wants to keep up remains to be seen. There will be so many worries in their lives to come, about becoming Kings, remaining Kings, Leonor & Sofia becoming teens & adults with media pressure being unleashed on them (what I believe will be Letizia's horror), the parents having to let go and disagreements about their daughter's decisions, fading looks ... will they still be accomplices in decades to come? I wouldnt bet on it.

Sofia is who she is, Queen of Spain, what she enjoys, a born royal with a firm position and reputation within the royal community, and she probably couldnt care less for JCs antics at this stage. I am not sure Letizia would feel as secure as Sofia in the same position.

The real strain on the Kings' marriage started in the early 80ies - JCs philandering and doing his own thing in his Men's World - if I am correct and it only deepened with the children becoming adults, taking their own decisions that one parent might support, the other one doesnt. Today I believe the relation is completely strained, only the professional basis for the greater good has remained, JC has been rude in public towards his wife, and Sofia's biography was probably one of the last straws for JC.

And last but not least in terms of the Kings liking Letizia or not: I dont believe she was welcomed at Zarzuela, they tried to kill the relationship and only gave in when there was no other option. But with marriage and time passing, I am sure they got over it and these days will appreciate her for doing a professional job.

What I never fell for though was the friendly demeanour of the Queen towards Letizia, it is very "Sofia", something I called acting, others might call professional. While I do believe that their relation is friendly/professional, I never believed the "best friends/accomplice" stories for a second. Sofia will smile with anybody, even an unfavoured daughter in law, as long as it serves the purpose of keeping the Spanish throne.