"Reconciliation" (2024): Memoirs of King Juan Carlos I

[Blog Real]

King Juan Carlos I is writing a memoir, and Point de Vue magazine reports that it will be called "Reconciliation". The work will have more than 500 pages and will cover the entire life of Juan Carlos I.
The memoir will be published on November 13, according to Vanitatis, by Editios Stock, a French publisher. According to other media, they will be published in January 2025.

Over more than five hundred pages, Juan Carlos I "explains his mistakes and these (sic) bad choices. He hides nothing of his regrets. He speaks from the heart, like someone who knows that he doesn't have much time left and prefers to confess than lie", mentions the argument of the Stock editions that Point de Vue was able to obtain. "My father always advised me not to write memoirs. Kings don't confide. Even less publicly. Their secrets remain buried in the shadows of palaces. Why am I going to disobey him today? Why did I finally change my mind? I have the feeling that my story is being stolen from me", writes Juan Carlos to justify his confidences. It remains to be seen whether Reconciliation – which sees "finally revive this King Lear who is no longer visited by his son, King Felipe, and who, as dusk falls, thinks like everyone else of his native land (sic)" – will truly have the desired pacifying effect.

Exclusif : Juan Carlos va publier ses mémoires

Exilé depuis 2020 à Abu Dhabi, le roi émérite a décidé de faire le récit de son histoire dans un ouvrage à paraître chez Stock. Intitulée Réconciliation, cette autobiographie risque de faire grand bruit en Espagne.

www.pointdevue.fr

El Rey Juan Carlos, en sus memorias: «Me están robando mi propia historia»

La revista francesa 'Point de Vue' anticipa el título: 'Reconciliación', y presenta las primeras reflexiones de un monarca consciente de que su tiempo es limitado

www.abc.es

https://www.vanitatis.elconfidencial.com/casas-reales/2024-09-24/fecha-titulo-esperadas-memorias-rey-juan-carlos_3969117/

This was the theme of this week's Point de Vue magazine cover:

https://c5.quickcachr.fotos.sapo.pt/i/Gde176b2a/22689925_OWJ6i.jpeg

 

[maria-olivia]

He wants to tell this when he is still alive.
The Story of the Bourbons , the End of the Reign of Alphonse XIII , his Exile , his Childhood the good and the very sad, Franco in Spain, his relationship with Franco etc....
I am sure he will respect Queen Sofia, his wife and King Felipe , his Son.
" Memoires , Edition Stock in France , 2025 "

 

[Mbruno]

He wants to tell this when he is still alive.
The Story of the Bourbons , the End of the Reign of Alphonse XIII , his Exile , his Childhood the good and the very sad, Franco in Spain, his relationship with Franco etc....
I am sure he will respect Queen Sofia, his wife and King Felipe , his Son.
" Memoires , Edition Stock in France , 2025 "

Juan Carlos is a very important figure in European and Spanish history. He also had a long and interesting life. I plan to buy his memoir when it is available.

 

[An Ard Ri]

He wants to tell this when he is still alive.
The Story of the Bourbons , the End of the Reign of Alphonse XIII , his Exile , his Childhood the good and the very sad, Franco in Spain, his relationship with Franco etc....
I am sure he will respect Queen Sofia, his wife and King Felipe , his Son.
" Memoires , Edition Stock in France , 2025 "

He hasn't shown his wife or children must respect in the past ,I can't see the old leopard suddenly changing his spots!

 

[maria-olivia]

He may be sorry about his past ?

 

[Blog Real]

He hasn't shown his wife or children must respect in the past ,I can't see the old leopard suddenly changing his spots!

I am sure that King Juan Carlos will not say anything that will harm his son's reign and that he will not be disrespectful to Queen Sofia.

 

[An Ard Ri]

King Juan Carlos has led a highly interesting life from rags to riches and the Restoration of the Borbon Monarchy in Spain and yet he behaved so recklessly towards the latter years of his reign and tarnished the Crown and his name.

 

[Hans-Rickard]

Looking forward to read the book… He’s an interesting and complex personality that i’m sure will continue to both amaze, stun and upset people long after his lifetime…

Few people have meant more in the democratising process of Spain… And few people have had a bigger and more public fall from grace than him…

I know that he and Queen Sofia has lived largely separate lives for decades now, but i’m still amazed that they have somehow not divorced… Wether it is religious, stately or personal reasons for that - I’m amazed that Queen Sofia has not left him even on paper…

Anyway i hope the book will be available in english…

 

[royaljul73]

Should be a very interesting read indeed ... Considering the important role Juan Carlos played not only in the Spanish, but also in the European history I'm pretty sure that the book will be available in English at some point. And in my opinion his disgraceful behaviour at the end of his reign can't take away the merits he earned by establishing and saving the monarchy in Spain from him.

 

[royaljul73]

And - more importantly - he of course played a crucial role in establishing and saving democracy in Spain.

 

[Prinsara]

Contrary to what the Count of Barcelona told him, I hope in explaining about the tragedy of his brother and whatever else has haunted him all this time that he finds some absolution and forgives himself.

And that it’s a more serious read than Spare.

 

[camelot23ca]

Contrary to what the Count of Barcelona told him, I hope in explaining about the tragedy of his brother and whatever else has haunted him all this time that he finds some absolution and forgives himself.

And that it’s a more serious read than Spare.

Juan Carlos has led what has to be one of the most interesting lives imaginable and, just as important, he seems like one of those people who know how to tell a story well. I think this has the potential to be a fantastic book, especially if he worked with a decent editor/ghost writer.

I can’t imagine this book will be like Spare, but if it is, it will be like if Spare was written by King Lear, so probably still a win!

 

[Prinsara]

Juan Carlos has led what has to be one of the most interesting lives imaginable and, just as important, he seems like one of those people who know how to tell a story well.

If he throws in “and Franco is still dead” (especially more than once), he’s got potential for a winner.

 

[Moonmaiden23]

This book just has to be released in English...I will be very disappointed if it isn't. I will also be more motivated to brush up on my Spanish because one way or another I am determined to read it.

 

[An Ard Ri]

It will make a highly interesting read but could also open a Pandora box for the Royal House given the former Monarchs fall from grace and scandals.
I have mixed feelings on the memoirs,I think JC may be trying to rebuilt his tarnished reputation.
Queen Sofia has been a model of decorum given all of her husbands antics .

 

[kalnel]

I noticed that Amazon now has a French edition posted as available on November 13 on the U.S. site. I hope an English edition is on the way, too!

 

[WreathOfLaurels]

Reconciliation feels a little milquetoast as a title for what I suspect will be even more self pitying, self indulgent, and even less self aware than Spare. I can’t help thinking that Atonement might be better but Ian McEwan has already used that for a novel. Contrition might work if a single word is what you’re going for. That said, here’s some potential alternative titles for the English translation:

• He’s not the King of Spain, he’s a very naughty boy.
• 49 million Spaniards can’t be wrong!
• Viva Juanito!
• Generalissimo Franco is still dead.
• We both reached for the gun.
• Confessions of Don Juan (Carlos).
• Gold, Girls, and Guns: The Juan Carlos de Borbon Story.

 

[An Ard Ri]

I wonder will there be an event to launch the memoir of the ex Monarch in November?

 

[Prinsara]

I wonder will there be an event to launch the memoir of the ex Monarch in November?

Seems like it’s going to be January at this point, right?

…I would not do this for your birthday or Felipe’s, JC, but that’s me.

 

[maria-olivia]

I wonder what was his reaction when his own Cousin married President Franco's granddaughter Carmen

 

[lula]

According to what has been published in the press, it is not likely that this book will be published at the moment. Juan Carlos has terrible advisors who do not understand the reality of Spain, and the reactions to the news of the publication were not what he expected, so for the moment the book is on hold.

 

[Prinsara]

According to what has been published in the press, it is not likely that this book will be published at the moment. Juan Carlos has terrible advisors who do not understand the reality of Spain, and the reactions to the news of the publication were not what he expected, so for the moment the book is on hold.

Then Juan Carlos would have to give back whatever advance he got from the publisher (he probably won’t starve), unless the publisher is fairly confident the book will still go to press reasonably soon.

Maybe not in Spain, maybe not great for Spain, but a lot of other people are fairly interested to see what he has to say, so the book would sell, somewhere, if printed.

 

[An Ard Ri]

Not trying to sound morbid but I think this book will only possibly be released after the passing of Don Juan Carlos.
He has burnt too many bridges ,his reputation is in tatters and his marriage in name only.

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

Not trying to sound morbid but I think this book will only possibly be released after the passing of Don Juan Carlos.
He has burnt too many bridges ,his reputation is in tatters and his marriage in name only.

given the title of the book - nomen est omen? I wonder if he apologizes for his blunders.

 

[Hans-Rickard]

Then Juan Carlos would have to give back whatever advance he got from the publisher (he probably won’t starve), unless the publisher is fairly confident the book will still go to press reasonably soon.

Maybe not in Spain, maybe not great for Spain, but a lot of other people are fairly interested to see what he has to say, so the book would sell, somewhere, if printed.

Indeed… This book will sell regardless of where it is released (if it will be)

JC is well known all over the world and his life will continue to catch peoples interest long after he is gone…

 

[An Ard Ri]

given the title of the book - nomen est omen? I wonder if he apologizes for his blunders.

He still lives a very lavish life and is no Mother Teresa .
Behind the scenes perhaps he is trying to make amends for the way in which he treated his wife ,children and the damage he did to the Spanish Monarchy is the last few years of his reign.

 

[Prinsara]

Mother Teresa has been revealed as not an exceptionally fantastic person, depending on what one reads!

I think other than apologia, part of the book’s purpose is to explain why he went so off the rails to begin with. (We know some, but it would be good to have his own details and perspective.)

 

[Blog Real]

The Spanish press reports today that the book is due to be published later this year. The book must be published in three languages: Spanish, French and English.

https://www.vanitatis.elconfidencial.com/casas-reales/2025-04-08/memorias-juan-carlos-i-antes-navidad-tres-idiomas_4103613/

 

[An Ard Ri]

I thought that this memoir project was scrapped?

 

[Blog Real]

I thought that this memoir project was scrapped?

King Juan Carlos wants to move forward with the project. He must be trying to clean up his image with this book and the court cases.