Crisis in the royal family: a summer of tensions among the infantas, Felipe VI, and Letizia

The Spanish royal family is currently in their "vacation period." This is a time marked by distance and internal tensions. There are three key locations: Bidart, Sanxenxo, and Palma.

Undoubtedly, this summer, the family rift has become more visible than ever. From the public distancing of infanta Cristina and IñakiUrdangarin, to the controversial reunion of the emeritus king Juan Carlos I with infanta Elena. The royal family appears to be having a very eventful summer both inside and outside their vacation residences.

Bidart: a summer marked by distance and the ghost of the past

Infanta Cristina chose Bidart, the family’s summer retreat, for a few days of rest far from Geneva. However, her stay was marked by the absence of a reunion with Iñaki Urdangarin.

According to the press, both were in the town on nearby dates and even in the same house, but they carried out a "methodical action plan to avoid meeting under any circumstances". The only link was their son Juan, who arrived from London to see his parents separately.

The strategy of avoiding each other responds to tensions that have persisted after the 2024 divorce. A "tense and chaotic" incident occurred in March 2025, when Cristina"lost her temper" while confronting Iñaki about his new partner. This left a strong mark and led her to demand "silence" from the former duke, whom she accuses of economic pressure through marital secrets. With this, she seeks to avoid a new "media scandal" that could compromise the image of King Felipe VI and the emeritus Juan Carlos I.

The summer of 2025 also symbolizes a definitive break. The infanta has cut off her relationship with Claire Liebaert, Urdangarin's mother, canceling the tradition of spending the summer together. However, she did meet with one of her ex-husband’s sisters, reflecting selective loyalties that still persist.

Sanxenxo: Elena’s rebellion and the emeritus’s front

Unlike Cristina, who chose distance, infanta Elena reunited with her father in Sanxenxo in July, in a meeting described as "warm" during the regattas. Father and daughter shared sailing and relaxation, confirming their "excellent relationship", while Juan Carlos I followed the competition from the support boat, a gesture that highlighted his closeness with his daughter.

The meeting is interpreted as an act of "rebellion" by Elena against Felipe VI, in a context that has reached a "critical point". The background is set by the imminent memoirs of the emeritus, Reconciliación, and the negotiation of a series on Netflix about his life. While Felipe and Letizia oppose the king father regaining prominence and airing family secrets, Elena supports his "right" to publish the book as an act of "personal freedom".

In addition, Juan Carlos I has designed a "counterprogramming" strategy to overshadow the summer of the kings in Marivent. He has invited the entire family to a mansion in Cascais.

This responds to the "veto" by Felipe and Letizia against the Urdangarin and Marichalar families at the Balearic Palace. With this, the emeritus seeks to reaffirm his message of "I'm still here". He also makes clear the division into two royal blocs: Marivent, with the kings, and Portugal, with a monarch who refuses to be forgotten.

La Palma: protocol, distance, and the axis of the infantas

Mallorca, the traditional summer meeting point for the royal family, became this summer a stage of distance. Neither Elena nor Cristina met with the kings at the Palacio de Marivent, an absence that the press interprets as a sign of internal division. According to sources, the infantas feel "uncomfortable in that environment" and avoided the presence of Queen Letizia and her daughters. It is even claimed that Letizia"forced"Cristina to cancel a trip with her children to accompany Queen Sofía.

The priority of the infantas was to ensure that Doña Sofía did not feel alone. After postponing their arrival on the island due to the "delicate health" of her sister Irene ofGreece, Elena and Cristina took turns in Madrid to care for her.

They finally convinced her to travel to Palma, although without a confirmed public agenda. Their strategy was clear: "they'll try not to coincide with King Felipe VI, so that Doña Sofía is always accompanied" when the kings are no longer there.

The difference between the official images and reality is clear. While mainstream media projected unity with gestures such as the "warm embrace" between Sofía and Letizia in the August 4 photo, the decision of the infantas to avoid Marivent confirms the rift.

This also shows the struggle for control of the monarchy’s public narrative. At the end of August, the presence of Elena in Palma with her cousin Simoneta Gómez-Acebo fueled speculation. The press claims that "she has met with the king in Mallorca", although that version clashes with the suspension of Felipe VI's vacation on August 19.

A summer of rumors and the generational rift

The tensions of this summer were not limited to the infantas, but also reached the next generation. Cristina focused her efforts on her eldest son, JuanUrdangarin. The infanta has prioritized spending time alone with him. They enjoyed swimming in the cold waters of Bridart beach and walking along the shore.

Meanwhile, Elena was once again caught up in the controversies surrounding Froilán. In Ibiza he made headlines for an alleged altercation and for rumors linking him to former MasterChef contestant Miri Pérez-Cabrero.

Added to this is the tension with her daughter Victoria Federica, who in November 2024 publicly defended Felipe VI on social media. This gesture angered her mother and showed how the conflict between factions has permeated the younger generation.

The press has acted as a true barometer of the internal crisis. Speculation about the "coldness" between FelipeVI and Letizia has multiplied. Rumors suggest that their marriage is "broken" and that the queen was absent first at the Marivent reception, a gesture "considered an affront." There was also talk of alleged "daily arguments" on the island between Letizia and her daughters. Sofía adopted a "rebellious" attitude toward her mother’s "total" control.

Meanwhile, the hypothesis of a definitive return to Spain hangs over the emeritus. The press indicates that Juan Carlos I may be seeking residence in the country, reaffirming his determination not to be forgotten. Added to his "counterprogramming" plan against the kings, the conflict goes beyond the private sphere: it has become a battle of public image and power within the monarchy.