Cascais, 'hidden refuge' of Juan Carlos I: the Emeritus's ties in Portugal

The Emeritus King Juan Carlos I has once again focused on Portugal as one of his refuges outside of Spain. Specifically, in the coastal town of Cascais. In recent days, after visiting Sanxenxo for the regattas, the former monarch traveled discreetly there. One of the Emeritus's "golden refuges" along with London and Switzerland, where he concentrates friendships and safeguards his fortune.

For many, this situation recalls the so-called "Operation Cascais". A supposed plan devised in recent years to establish the emeritus in that area with the help of his circle of Portuguese friends.

The recent presence of his sister, Infanta Margarita, with strong ties there, and Juan Carlos I's attendance at events in Portugal—including the Aga Khan's funeral—reinforce the idea of a Portuguese connection. All of this paints a picture in which Cascais could be a golden refuge for the Emeritus.

A few days ago, Juan Carlos I returned to Spain to enjoy sailing. He spent six days in Sanxenxo (Pontevedra), staying at the home of his friend Pedro Campos. There, he closely followed the local 6-meter class regattas.

The trip was also marked by the Emeritus's absence in Santander. On May 16, a conciliation act with Miguel Ángel Revilla was held in the courts of the Cantabrian capital. The Cantabrian was "stood up" by Don Juan Carlos after being sued for slander. The former monarch preferred to stay in Galicia enjoying sailing. In fact, due to the lack of understanding, the matter will now go to court. According to El Diario Montañés, the emeritus monarch will file a lawsuit against Revilla in the Madrid courts.

"I haven't been to Santander in a long time. The weather is very nice here," he joked to journalists at the dock. After the regattas concluded, on Sunday he left Galicia on a private flight to Cascais. It was a discreet but significant move.

Instead of returning to Abu Dhabi, where he has officially resided since 2020, he chose to spend a few days on the Portuguese coast. Reinforcing the rumors linking him to that enclave.

"Operation Cascais": a plan for a permanent residence

In August 2020, a few weeks after his departure from Spain, the newspaper El Mundo revealed the supposed existence of a "Operation Cascais". According to that information, a group of top-level Portuguese personalities had been looking for a residence for Juan Carlos in Estoril-Cascais.

Among those involved were businessman João Manuel Brito e Cunha, socialite Lili Caneças, and other members of the Portuguese elite. The objective: to offer the emeritus a place to settle discreetly, but close to Spain.

Portugal, with its historical and cultural ties, represents an ideal option for Juan Carlos, according to close sources. It is an hour's flight from Madrid, has a mild climate, and the Portuguese public opinion is much less critical of his figure. The sources cited by El Mundo claimed that even the Cascais City Council had shown a good disposition to welcome the former head of state.

In fact, the mayor himself, Carlos Carreiras, declared that they would receive the monarch "with open arms." Remembering that Don Juan Carlos spent part of his youth in the area.

Although in 2020 Juan Carlos I ended up settling in Abu Dhabi, the idea of living in Cascais has persisted. In 2023, it was rumored that the Emeritus King had acquired a property in the area through a shell company, Elefante Blanco S.L., supposedly managed by his friend Marta Gayá. The property, a former bakery converted into a two-story house, was chosen for its discretion. Although the Royal House never confirmed these details, close sources reinforce the idea that Cascais remains in the monarch's life horizon.

Infanta Margarita and her strong bond with Cascais

During the Sanxenxo regattas, the Emeritus King received a visit from his sister, Infanta Margarita de Borbón. At 84 years old, Margarita keeps a very close relationship with him and with Portugal. In fact, both spent part of their childhood in Estoril, during the exile of their parents, the Counts of Barcelona.

In 2022, Margarita was honored in Estoril with a promenade named after her. Back then, she confessed in Portuguese that she felt "at home" in Portugal.

The visit to Galicia rekindled speculation about whether Juan Carlos I later traveled to Cascais accompanied by his sister. Although it was not officially confirmed, Margarita's presence reinforces the family dimension of the emeritus's ties to the Portuguese coast. It is speculated that the Infanta might have a residence in the area, which would facilitate these trips.

The Aga Khan's funeral and the Portuguese stopover

Before his visit to Galicia, Juan Carlos I passed through Lisbon to attend the funeral of Karim Aga Khan IV, on February 8. The Ismaili leader died at the age of 88. His funeral, held at the Ismaili Center in Lisbon, was attended by 300 dignitaries. Among them, Juan Carlos I and the Portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

The figure of the Aga Khan had a strong link with Portugal. He had acquired Portuguese nationality in 2019 and moved the headquarters of his foundation to Lisbon, taking advantage of tax benefits. This international connection reinforces Portugal's role as a friendly territory for the Emeritus.

This Portuguese stopover before returning to Abu Dhabi, and his subsequent return to Cascais after the regattas, underscores a pattern. Portugal as a point of entry, rest, or transition in the life of the former head of state.

Already in 2020, during his exile, it was speculated that Juan Carlos I might have taken refuge in Estoril before flying to the Emirates. Although that version was never confirmed, it shows that Cascais has always been on the board.

Lili Caneças: the high society hostess

At the center of the social network that could facilitate the emeritus's life in Cascais is Lili Caneças. Maria Alice "Lili" Caneças is a well-known Portuguese socialite, a regular in celebrity chronicles, and a personal friend of Don Juan Carlos for decades. A resident of Cascais for over 60 years, she has been identified as one of the figures who promoted "Operation Cascais."

Lili Caneças keeps a close relationship with European royalty, particularly with the Bourbon family. She has been seen at events alongside Infanta Margarita and other personalities from the royal circle. In various interviews, she has shown affection for the emeritus king, whom she refers to with the affectionate nickname "Juanito". Her role as a hostess of the elite and her influence would make her a key figure in the eventual installation of the Emeritus in Cascais.

Cascais, a refuge with history and future

Cascais represents much more than just a destination for the Emeritus King's rest. In this coastal town converge his personal past, his emotional environment, and a network of friends who offer him hospitality. With a public opinion less hostile than the Spanish, geographical proximity, and institutional discretion, Cascais presents itself as a realistic and strategic option for a partial or even permanent residence.

Although Juan Carlos I keeps his official residence in the United Arab Emirates, each new trip reinforces the hypothesis that Cascais is his foothold in Europe. The visits of Infanta Margarita, the protection of friends like Lili Caneças, and the good disposition of the Portuguese authorities fuel the possibility that, in the not-too-distant future, the Emeritus King will establish his definitive retirement place there.