“Heredarás mi reino” (You will inherit my kingdom) is the new biography of King Juan Carlos I written by Spanish journalist David López Canales and published by Ediciones B.
The book focuses on the turbulent last years of Juan Carlos’s reign, from the fateful hunting accident in Botswana that uncovered his extramarital affair with Corinna Larsen, to the numerous investigations into alleged corruption that led to his abdication in 2014.
Juan Carlos I’s descent into hell could affect Princess Leonor’s future reign
Throughout its pages, López Canales dissects with journalistic precision the double life of the one who was for decades an untouchable symbol of the Spanish Transition.
On the one hand, the impeccable monarch who contributed decisively to the consolidation of democracy; on the other, the greedy and venal man, greedy for money and recognition.
The book reviews with documentary rigor the murky ins and outs of the business of the AVE to Mecca, for which Juan Carlos allegedly received 100 million dollars in commissions from Saudi Arabia.
Also his close business ties with Corinna Larsen, whom he allegedly wanted to divorce Queen Sofia in order to marry.
It also addresses the trickle of financial scandals, briefcases of money, and opaque accounts in tax havens that were corrupting the public image of a king who, ironically, lashed out in his traditional Christmas messages against political corruption.
According to the author, this blatant distance between the exemplarity required of a head of state and the personal greed of Juan Carlos inflicted enormous damage on the Spanish Crown.
In fact, one of the central questions raised by the book is how these scandals will affect the monarchical institution in the future, especially in view of the eventual reign of Princess Leonor.
Will Felipe VI manage to free her definitively from the toxicity accumulated by the corrupt acts of her father, or will the ballast of Juan Carlos finally sink her? These are questions whose answers have yet to be written.
What name will Princess Leonor receive when she becomes Queen of Spain?
When Princess Leonor is proclaimed Queen of Spain, her name will change to the royal name she will use during her reign.
The heir to the Spanish throne will be called Leonor I from the moment she is proclaimed Queen after the death or abdication of her father.
Until then, she will continue to bear her present title, Princess of Asturias.