King Juan Carlos may be thousands of miles away in Abu Dhabi, but he has found a way to keep up with major events in the life of his teenage granddaughter, Princess Leonor.
The former monarch has reportedly adopted the social media platform TikTok to keep an eye on Leonor’s royal activities from afar.
King Juan Carlos uses TikTok
Juan Carlos I abdicated the throne in 2014 amid scandal, leaving his son Felipe VI as King of Spain.
Partly in self-imposed exile, Juan Carlos moved to the United Arab Emirates in 2020. But he is clearly still happy to see his grandchildren grow up, albeit virtually.
According to sources close to the former King, and revealed by Spanish portal Monarquia Confidencial, Juan Carlos eagerly followed Leonor’s recent flag swearing-in ceremonies and the October 12 military parade live on TikTok.
He was reportedly thrilled to see Leonor in military uniform alongside her father, King Felipe VI.
The Princess of Asturias’ various fan accounts on TikTok have allowed Juan Carlos to participate remotely in the main events of Leonor’s life.
The 17-year-old heir to the throne is taking on more and more royal responsibilities and will soon take the oath of allegiance to the Spanish Constitution when she turns 18 on October 31.
On that day, Congress and the Senate will meet at the Palacio de las Cortes, in joint session, and Leonor will take an oath to faithfully perform her duties, to keep and uphold the Constitution and the laws, and to respect the rights of citizens and the autonomous communities.
The following day, after Leonor takes the oath of the Constitution before the Cortes Generales, a family reunion will be held in the total intimacy of the El Pardo Palace to celebrate the 18th birthday of the heiress. This meeting will be attended by the King emeritus Juan Carlos I.
