King Juan Carlos celebrated his 86th birthday yesterday in Abu Dhabi surrounded by his daughters, Elena and Cristina, and his closest friends, most of them from Spain, on a day that included a meal at the hotel where the guests were staying. Spaniards and a cocktail-type dinner, which took place at his residence in the Emirati neighborhood of Al Bateen.
The initiative for the celebration came from three of the closest friends of King Juan Carlos: the shipowner Pedro Campos, his host in Sanxenxo; Miguel Arias, owner of the Flanigan restaurant in Mallorca, and a friend for decades, and Dr. Eduardo Anitua, a specialist in stomatology and medical director of the Vitoria clinic where King Juan Carlos underwent his last medical check-ups. They have been, together with Infanta Elena, in charge of preparing everything and coordinating the rest of the guests. All attendees have paid for their travel and stay.
The celebration began yesterday with a meal held at the hotel where most of the Spanish guests were staying, to which, at the last minute, King Juan Carlos joined. Shortly after seven in the afternoon (three hours less in mainland Spain), the Spaniards traveled in minibuses to the residence of King Juan Carlos, where a cocktail took place, enlivened by the flamenco group Los del Río and another music group. local. There was no shortage of Spanish wines, ham, belly belly and even potato omelette, as well as dishes typical of the emirate in deference to the local attendees.
Among the Spanish guests, in addition to the Infantas Elena and Cristina, Felipe and Victoria de Marichalar and Pablo and Irene Urdangarin, were the former heads of the King’s House, Fernando Almansa and Rafael Spottorno; the aforementioned Campos, Arias and Anitua, crew members of the Bribón and other sailors; Dr. Manuel Sánchez; businessmen such as Mónica Oriol, Manuel Piñera, Mauricio Sánchez-Bella, Jaime de Lastra, José María Juncadella, and the journalist Carlos Herrera. Emiratis such as the president of Manchester City, Khaldoon al Mubarak, and relatives of other nationalities also attended.
The promoters of the celebration agreed to travel to the emirate for the birthday and, later, they informed other acquaintances. They were the ones who proposed to King Juan Carlos that they all meet in Abu Dhabi to celebrate his birthday and reiterate their friendship at a time when, according to those summoned, he is in “good health and spirit.” At no time did they consider expanding the guest list beyond those who, in recent years, have been part of the king’s closest circle.