Juan Carlos I Arrives in the Dominican Republic amid Princess Leonor's Journey

Juan Carlos I (Rome, 1938) has once again left Abu Dhabi. According to exclusive information obtained by Elcierredigital.com, "the Emeritus King is in Punta Cana, a city in the easternmost part of the Dominican Republic". Juan Carlos I's new trip was reportedly not coincidental. After leaving Panama, Princess Leonor (Madrid, 2005) has set course for Cartagena de Indias, the next stop on her journey aboard the training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano.

On May 19, the ship will dock in Santo Domingo. In the capital of the Dominican Republic, it will remain until the 24th of this month. A circumstance for which, according to sources consulted by Elcierredigital.com, "Princess Leonor is expected to visit Juan Carlos I during her stay in the Dominican Republic".

The Possible Meeting Between Juan Carlos I and Princess Leonor

Last Saturday, the training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano arrived at the port of Panama City, one of the stops on the journey that Princess Leonor began in January.

At the Panamanian port, the families of the midshipmen were waiting, including Queen Letizia, mother of the future Queen of Spain. Both shared an emotional hug and later attended a reception aboard the training ship.

After leaving the Panamanian capital, the vessel has continued its journey and will arrive this Friday in Cartagena de Indias (Colombia) where Princess Leonor will stay for five days. The next stop for the training ship will be Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic.

This stop could be very significant for the daughter of Felipe VI. As confirmed by sources consulted by Elcierredigital.com, Juan Carlos I is in Punta Cana, one of the tourist cities of the Dominican Republic.

Princess Leonor will stay in Santo Domingo from May 19 to 24. A circumstance that could lead to a meeting between the future queen and Juan Carlos I. These same sources add to Elcierredigital.com that "during his stay in Punta Cana, Juan Carlos I could meet with his granddaughter and also enjoy a party in Capcana.

Capcana is one of the most exclusive residential areas located south of Punta Cana.

An Enclave Located Seventy-Seven Kilometers from La Romana, the province where 'Casa de Campo', a top-level resort where Felipe VI's father usually stays during his trips to the Caribbean country, is located. This complex is owned by Cuban magnate José Fanjul, one of the intimate friends of the Emeritus King.

But, how was their relationship forged?

The Fanjuls, the 'Support' of Juan Carlos I in the Dominican Republic

As we mentioned, 'Casa de Campo' is one of the many properties of businessman Pepe Fanjul. There, Juan Carlos I enjoys the sun, the beach, and tranquility away from the scandals that have surrounded him in recent months.

In the Caribbean country, Juan Carlos I enjoys the 'protection' of the Fanjuls, one of the most powerful dynasties in the Dominican Republic. But, who are the Fanjuls?

The clan is descended from Spaniards who emigrated to Cuba at the end of the 19th century.

In the still Spanish colony, they made a fortune with sugar cane. They became one of the most powerful families on the island, thanks to doing business during the regime of Fulgencio Batista.

During those years, the visible face of the clan was Alfonso Fanjul. Together with his wife, Lillian Rosa Gómez-Mena, he had four children: Alfonso, Pepe, Alexander, and Andrés.

Alfonso came from a family that owned the Cuban Trading Company. His wife's family, of Spanish origin, had experience in the sugar export business.

During that period, for everyone in Havana, the Fanjuls were the closest thing to nobility in a non-monarchical country. In fact, they became the hosts of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor when they visited Cuba.

However, the Fanjuls' luck changed after the Castro Revolution in 1959. The family left Cuba and settled in Palm Beach, Florida. Their business empire remained focused on sugar plantations both in the United States and the Dominican Republic.

The company they created at that time was Florida Crystals and is currently the third-largest in the sugar sector in the United States.

Politics and Friendship with Juan Carlos I

Their economic capacity has also given them influence in American politics. Pepe Fanjul, friend and future host of Juan Carlos I, is a prominent supporter of the Republican Party and the policies of Donald Trump.

His brother Alfredo publicly supported the Government of Barack Obama when it decided to resume diplomatic relations with Cuba.

Although the Fanjuls' operations center is in Miami, they spend much of their time in the Dominican Republic. In this country, they own a luxurious residential complex near the capital, Santo Domingo. This complex covers 7,000 acres (2,833 hectares) and features many pools, golf courses, a polo field, and restaurants.

The Fanjuls also have numerous properties throughout the La Romana area, south of the Dominican Republic, a top-level paradise facing Catalina Island where Juan Carlos I takes refuge.

In that area, Margarita Vargas, wife of Luis Alfonso de Borbón, also has properties, and they got married there.

However, Juan Carlos I has been the star guest of Pepe Fanjul and his wife Emilia. Additionally, the Fanjul couple were also regulars in Mallorca during the years when Juan Carlos I turned the Balearic island into a kind of second court every summer.

The Fanjuls' hostess in Mallorca was Cristina López-Mancisidor, known as Cristina Macaya, in her luxurious house Es Canyar. Additionally, the Fanjuls have a very good relationship with Marie Chantall Miller and Pablo de Grecia, political nephews of Juan Carlos I, who has returned to his 'Caribbean paradise' in the midst of his granddaughter Princess Leonor's journey.