King Juan Carlos will return to Spain tomorrow Thursday to participate in the 6mR class Spanish Cup regattas held in Sanxenxo (Pontevedra) during the weekend. It will be his third trip, to the same destination and with the same purpose, since on August 3, 2020 he decided to self-exile in Abu Dhabi. The King’s father’s arrival at Vigo airport, in the absence of a specific flight plan, will take place between tonight and the early hours of tomorrow, and he is scheduled to leave Spain again on Monday.
It happens that the arrival of King Juan Carlos in Sanxenxo coincides with the transfer of his son, King Felipe VI, to Marivent, to begin his summer stay in Mallorca. During this weekend, Joan Carles will participate in the Cup of Spain in the Ria de Pontevedra and, at the same time, the King will prepare, in the bay of Palma, his participation in the King’s Cup Mapfre de Vela, which starts on the day July 31 Two nautical tests, two seas (Atlantic and Mediterranean) separated by the Peninsula and two kings separated by their antagonistic way of exercising their functions.
The third visit of the king emeritus, a few days before the celebration of the recent general elections, takes place after, through people in his personal circle, there was his resounding denial of information that conditioned his definitive return to Spain upon the arrival of Alberto Núñez Feijóo as president of the government.
This possibility has never been considered, since the will of King Juan Carlos, in accordance with his own decision and regardless of who rules, is to continue living permanently in Abu Dhabi and, at the same time, to normalize his visits regulars in Spain, with a low profile until they go unnoticed.
Speculations about this possible definitive return have more to do with the wishes and advice of people close to the king emeritus, who believe he should live in Spain. In this circle it is considered that a future government of the PP would facilitate the return without conditions, while the current Government (now in office) makes this return difficult with its position of demanding public explanations from whoever was head of state for his past performances. Just yesterday the acting second vice-president and leader of Sumar, Yolanda Díaz, in statements to La Sexta affirmed: “What has happened with the king emeritus has not yet been explained in our country and it would be good if it was done”.
Although he communicates his trips to Spain in advance to the Zarzuela, the decision to return sporadically depends exclusively on King Juan Carlos. The only commitment with his son, King Felipe VI, is to avoid public exposure and, as far as possible, to leave the Zarzuela aside.