MADRID — King Juan Carlos’s son-in-law will stop taking part in official ceremonies because of business dealings that are under investigation, Spain’s Royal Palace said Monday as it sought to dissipate a whiff of scandal.
The decision regarding Inaki Urdangarin, husband of the monarch’s daughter Princess Cristina, was a mutual one made by Urdangarin and the Royal Palace, its chief of staff Rafael Spottorno said in a rare meeting with Spanish media.
Urdangarin, 43, is reportedly suspected of siphoning away funds from public contracts awarded from 2004 to 2006 to a non-profit foundation he then headed.
The allegation looks terrible for the royal family at a time of acute hardship and economic crisis in Spain, where unemployment stands at 21.5 percent.
Urdangarin has not been charged with a crime. He issued a statement Saturday saying he regrets the “damage” the case is doing to the royal family but admitted no wrongdoing.
More reading:
The Spanish media are all over this news and the damage to the image of the monarchy!
Arturo, nice to see you posting again. I hope you are feeling somewhat better. Hope the family is doing well.
ReplyDeleteHave a great evening.