Overview
- King Felipe VI convened a private lunch at the Palacio de El Pardo on Nov. 22 to mark 50 years since Juan Carlos I’s proclamation, bringing together the full family for the first time since 2023.
- Juan Carlos flew in from Abu Dhabi on a VistaJet private plane, arrived shortly after midday, attended the meal, and departed the same day without staying overnight in Spain.
- La Zarzuela emphasized the event’s strictly private nature, releasing no official images, with media estimating roughly 60–70 relatives across multiple tables, including members of the Greek royal family.
- The gathering also recognized Queen Sofía, who received the Order of the Golden Fleece the previous day during institutional ceremonies at the Royal Palace.
- The reunion followed the publication in France of Juan Carlos’s memoir ‘Reconciliación,’ which contains critical passages about Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, as EL PAÍS reports the book’s Spain release is set for Dec. 3 and notes his reported wish to spend several months in Spain faces fiscal hurdles.