Five years of a relationship that, perhaps, weren’t filled with happiness until the very end. The news of the breakup between Telma Ortiz, sister of Queen Letizia, and Irish lawyer Gavin Bonnar came as a complete surprise to many. Considering how much noise and passion surrounded the start of their romance, it seemed as though this love could overcome any obstacle. Clearly, fate had other plans. The most remarkable part is that the couple actually separated more than a year ago, yet managed to keep up appearances, carefully controlling information leaks all this time.
Their story resembled the script of a dramatic film from the very beginning. It all started with a public scandal—Gavin left his first wife, Sharon Corr, the famous violinist from the Irish band The Corrs, for Telma. He had been married to Sharon for eighteen years, serving as both husband and father to their two children, as well as her business confidant. The meeting with the sister of the Spanish queen, who was reportedly Sharon’s friend, changed everything. The hurt singer would later dedicate a song titled ‘The Fool and the Scorpion’ to her former husband and his new love.
The first years of their life together were chronicled as a union of two explosive and passionate personalities. However, Telma, acutely aware of her proximity to the royal family, always strove for restraint and modesty, as befits the sister of the queen consort. Bonnar, in contrast, quickly drew attention for his eccentric behavior. He was active on social media, launching fierce political attacks against the British government, unrestrained in his language and often resorting to insults.
Everything pointed to cloudless happiness and a life of luxury, especially after the birth of their daughter Erin in 2021. But the announcement of their separation revealed that the idyll had ended long ago. Initial bewilderment was soon followed by the realization that the image of Telma Ortiz and Gavin Bonnar had little in common with reality. Even their quiet breakup seems unnatural, as if it’s the calm before an inevitable storm that they are struggling to hold back.
Behind the scenes of this quiet breakup, sources close to the couple describe a “very difficult process” with “unpleasant and delicate” details. The family drama turned out to be much deeper than it first appeared. Two main reasons for the split are cited: unexpected financial troubles and Bonnar’s insatiable desire for publicity. It emerged that the couple was forced to leave their luxury home in the prestigious Soto de la Moraleja district because they could no longer afford it. Thelma covered most of the expenses, while the lawyer dreamed of a lavish lifestyle without the matching income.
The apparent point of no return was the publication of his first thriller novel, ‘The Fourth Estate.’ During the promotional tour, Bonnar basked in the spotlight, enjoying attention largely thanks to his status as Queen Letizia’s son-in-law. It is worth noting that his legal career included working with such influential women as Britney Spears, Oprah Winfrey, and Jennifer Lopez, so he was well used to being in the shadow of a powerful figure. The main question now is how to integrate a man with dreams of greatness, a love of fame, and an uncontrollable temperament into a family that is obliged to stay out of the limelight. If the couple truly spent months trying to minimize the damage, the worst may still be ahead. It’s not easy to convince someone hungry for fame of the need for restraint. The lawyer has already begun leaving messages to his ex-lover on his social media. Where will this lead? To a new book or, even worse, to a tell-all memoir?
