At 25 years old, Felipe Juan Froilan has had a life full of controversy and marked by numerous anecdotes. Know some curious facts and anecdotes of the polemic nephew of the King of Spain.
Known as the “infant terrible” of the Spanish royal family, Froilán has become synonymous with controversies and memorable incidents throughout the first quarter of a century.
From his mischievous behavior at the royal wedding to his impulsive nature and frequent conflicts, his life has been anything but ordinary.
Felipe Juan Froilan’s Controversies
At the tender age of six, Froilán made headlines when he served as a page boy at the wedding of King Felipe and Queen Letizia. During the ceremony at the Almudena Cathedral, he kicked his cousin Victoria López de Quesada y Borbón Dos Sicilias, creating a moment that would go down in history.
As the grandson of the King emeritus, Froilán holds a special place in his heart. Sources close to the royal family suggest that he is King Juan Carlos I’s favorite grandson.
In terms of the line of succession to the throne, Froilán holds the fourth position, following his cousins, Princess Leonor, and Infanta Sofia, as well as his mother, Infanta Elena de Borbón y Grecia.
Additionally, he carries the title of Excelentísimo Señor and holds the distinguished status of a Grandee of Spain.
Froilán’s complex name reflects his family heritage and traditions. His name includes Felipe, in honor of his uncle King Felipe; Juan, as a tribute to his great-grandfather Juan de Borbón; Froilán, because he is the patron saint of Lugo (his mother is the Duchess of Lugo); and De Todos los Santos, as is customary in the Spanish royal family. The name Froilán itself, of Germanic origin, means “lord of the lands.”
Within the family circle, Froilán is affectionately referred to as Pipe, a diminutive form of Felipe.
Those who know him well claim that his character closely resembles that of his mother – impulsive and stubborn.
Among his cousins, Froilán shares a special bond with Juan Valentín, the son of Infanta Cristina and Iñaki Urdangarin, who is two years younger.
However, Froilán’s academic journey has been far from smooth. He struggled in school, accumulating failing grades that prompted his parents to make several school changes.
Ultimately, he graduated from the Blue Ridge School in Virginia, United States, on May 26, 2017. Throughout his education, Froilán switched schools four times in just five years and even repeated the 2nd grade of ESO.
His schooling misadventures were not the only instances that garnered attention. In 2010, Froilán was in the news again for an incident that did not escalate into a major issue.
During an outing with his grandmother Sofia, he slyly stuck out his finger at the press, pretending to scratch his head.
As a teenager, Froilán had a mishap involving a firearm that resulted in an accidental injury.
In April 2012, while practicing shooting with a 36-caliber shotgun on the family estate in Soria, the gun went off, hitting him in the foot. He was promptly taken to the hospital, and since Spanish law prohibits children under the age of 14 from using firearms, his father had to face the authorities.
His notorious reputation continued in 2013 during a family gathering in Palma de Mallorca. Froilán had a clash with his cousin Pablo Nicolás Urdangarin, headbutting him and attempting to harm him with a skewer.
At the age of 16, he tried to jump the queue at an attraction in Madrid’s Parque de Atracciones. When a person of Asian origin called his attention, he replied with an offensive “shut up, you Chinese Fu***.”
Froilán’s romantic life also made headlines, as he embarked on a relationship with Mar Torres, whom he met at Sagrada Familia school in Sigüenza. The couple dated from 2015 until late 2017, capturing the public’s attention during their time together.
The young royal’s escapades continued to make waves, including an incident in early 2018 when he was reportedly robbed of an envelope containing 1,400 euros outside a bingo hall.
In the summer of 2022, a visit to Marbella’s Opium Beach Club took a dangerous turn when a client opened fire in one of the reserved areas, prompting Froilán to leave the premises.
Later in November 2022, a fight erupted outside a nightclub in Madrid’s Salamanca district. One of Froilán’s friends suffered a cut on his forearm, leading Froilán to accompany him to the hospital and stay by his side until he was discharged.
In February 2023, as Froilán exited a nightclub, he confronted a team of reporters from the ‘Fiesta’ program, further adding to the string of incidents associated with his name.
Amidst the scandals and controversies, Infanta Elena made the decision in January 2023 to send Froilán to live in Abu Dhabi with his grandfather, the King Emeritus.
This measure was intended to remove him from the public spotlight and give him a fresh start away from the intense scrutiny that surrounded his actions.
As Felipe Juan Froilán de Borbón turns 25, his life continues to be a story of constant shocks, mishaps, and headlines.
It remains to be seen whether he will be able to find stability and redemption in this new stage of his life.
