Spanish Royal Family Embroiled in Corruption Scandal

 

The royal family traditionally maintains a discreet profile in Spain, where Juan Carlos is widely respected, credited with guiding the country to democracy after the death of the dictator Francisco Franco in 1975

A corruption scandal implicating the son-in-law of the King of Spain is threatening to tarnish the entire royal family and stir up the country's latent anti-monarchist sentiment

The palace was forced to deny plans that it would limit royal status to just the King and Queen, the heir Crown Prince Felipe, his wife Princess Letizia and their two daughters, effectively relieving the King's other daughters of royal duties and stopping their annual stipends

Inaki Urdangarin, the Duke of Palma and consort to the Infanta Cristina, youngest daughter of King Juan Carlos of Spain, is at the centre of an investigation into the embezzlement of public funds through a non-profit organisation he managed between 2004 and 2006.The investigation centres on a payment of 2.3 million euros to Instituto Noos for organising a tourism and sports conference in 2005 and 2006. Urdangarin was president of the company between 2004 and 2006

Urdangarin(played for the Spanish national handball team in the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Summer Olympics, captaining the team in 2000. His team won bronze medals in the 1996 and 2000 games) married Princess Cristina, the youngest daughter of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, in Barcelona in October 1997. The couple have four children and currently live in Washington, DC

Spain's royal palace on Monday Dec 12,2011 froze King Juan Carlos' son-in-law Urdangarinout of its official activities over a corruption scandal that has caused a rare embarrassment for the monarchy