Last June, Irene Urdangarin celebrated her 19th birthday after spending several months in Cambodia participating in a humanitarian aid project with the Spanish NGO Sauce.
This trip changed her outlook on life. In love with Juan Urquijo, 25, Irene, the only daughter of the Infanta Cristina, has decided to follow in the footsteps of her cousin Leonor to gain more independence.
Irene Urdangarin’s driver’s license
Although she has access to official cars that take her everywhere, the same ones that her father, Iñaki Urdangarin, used before his divorce from Cristina, Irene has wanted to change her life to have more freedom in Spain. How? By getting her driver’s license.
A few months ago, Pablo Urdangarin’s sister moved to the Zarzuela Palace with her grandmother Sofia to concentrate on passing her driving test. And she succeeded! In December 2023, Irene passed the theory test, and is now in the practice phase and waiting to take the practical test.
So determined is Irene to complete this procedure that she has accelerated the process, despite having a year’s margin.
She attended the driving school located in the Salamanca neighborhood, in the center of Madrid.
The practical exam, like many in the capital, was held at the DGT in Móstoles. According to the Spanish magazine ‘Semana’, Irene was very nervous and needed a tila to calm down before getting behind the wheel. But how was the whole process? Did she pass or fail?
The result of Irene Urdangarin’s practical test
Although there is no official confirmation, the Spanish portal ‘Informalia’ assures, after talking to several reliable sources, that Irene failed the practical exam.
It seems that nerves led her not only to take a lime tea, but also to make a call before getting into the car, possibly to a friend or to her boyfriend, Juan Urquijo.
This setback means that Irene will be dependent on official cars for a few more months and will not be able to enjoy the summer with total independence. Even so, she will surely take advantage of these months to strengthen her relationship with her boyfriend before leaving for the UK.
Irene Urdangarin’s future plans
The most discreet niece of the King and Queen, will first go to Mallorca with her cousins and the Queen Emeritus, and then to Bidart, the favorite destination of her grandmother Claire Liebaert, where her father’s family usually spend the summer.
Irene’s sabbatical year will end with the resumption of her studies, although it is not yet clear where.
According to the newspaper ‘El Mundo’, Irene is “a responsible girl who has passed two selectivities, French and English”.
Although she initially planned to study at the École Hôtelière de Lausanne, the most prestigious hospitality school in the world, she was unable to complete enrollment, which led her to take a break to clarify her ideas.
The same media reports that Irene has secured places at several UK universities in disciplines related to event organization, a field she is very interested in and in which she has skills.
This summer, Irene and Juan will try to spend as much time together as possible, strengthening their relationship and avoiding paparazzi attention.
Since they were photographed feeding zebras in a safari park, the couple has wanted to keep their romance as discreet as possible.