The announcement of the upcoming autobiography of King Emeritus Juan Carlos, entitled Reconciliation, has caused a stir in the Royal Household and has generated a mix of reactions among family members, particularly the Infanta Cristina.
The biography, which will see the light in 2025 and will be published by a French publisher, promises to be an open confession of the emeritus king, who will address in more than 500 pages the most important moments of his life, from his childhood until his abdication in 2014.
King Juan Carlos’ memoirs worry Cristina
In this book, the former monarch will reflect on his mistakes and bad decisions. According to sources close to the publisher, Juan Carlos will not hide anything and will speak frankly about the regrets he has accumulated over the years.
“It is a work in which the emeritus king shows himself to be vulnerable, as one who knows that time is limited and prefers to confess rather than remain silent,” says one of the collaborators close to the publication.
However, not everyone has received this news well. The Infanta Cristina has been one of the most critical voices regarding her father’s decision to launch the book at this time.
According to sources consulted by the portal Monarquía Confidencial, the youngest daughter of Juan Carlos contacted him to express her dissatisfaction, pointing out that “it was not the right time” for a revelation of such magnitude.
Cristina’s concern also stems from her recent reconnection with her brother, King Felipe VI. For some time now, the two have been working on improving their relationship, something that has even allowed some of Infanta Cristina’s children to live temporarily at La Zarzuela with their grandmother, Queen Sofia.
“They have met again on several occasions and their relationship is much better than it was in the past,” say those close to the royal family.
For her part, the Infanta Elena has shown total support for her father. According to the same sources, she has been aware of the autobiography for some time and considers that the emeritus king has every right to tell his story.
“She believes he has done nothing wrong,” note people close to the family.
The title Reconciliation is no coincidence. The father of King Felipe of Spain, has stated that the aim of the book is to regain control of his own narrative, preventing others from manipulating or misinterpreting the facts of his life.
However, within the Royal Household, there are fears that the publication of these memoirs will have negative repercussions, especially on the image of King Felipe VI and the future of Princess Leonor, the heir to the throne.
Although King Felipe VI knew of the existence of the memoirs and has maintained communication with his father about it, the book could further fragment the relationship between the two, a relationship already marked by differences in the vision of what the Crown represents.
However, those who know the emeritus king closely assure that his intention is not to harm his son. “Juan Carlos always measures his moves so as not to harm Felipe or his granddaughter, the Princess of Asturias,” they say.
However, the decision to go public with his story has left many questioning whether that is really the case. The publication of her memoirs, full of confessions and regrets, seems to say otherwise.