Juan Valentín Urdangarin y de Borbón turns twenty-six, celebrating his birthday in the British capital where he has lived since 2022. Speculation about his possible return to his homeland continues to surface, but so far these remain unfounded rumors. It seems the conditions are not yet right for him to move back to Spain, and in this regard his situation mirrors that of his mother. Infanta Cristina is also, according to rumors, preparing for her return as she completes preparations on her new apartment in Barcelona’s prestigious Pedralbes district, where her family life with Iñaki Urdangarin once began.
Making predictions about the young man’s future is pointless. He has skillfully built an impenetrable wall around his private life, and understandably so. He is believed to have taken his father’s trial and imprisonment for corruption hardest among his family. That experience appears to have permanently discouraged him from any kind of public attention. It is difficult to say whether he is truly as reserved as he seems, but his aversion to the press is evident.
In contrast, his brothers and sister appear much more open. The lives of Pablo, Miguel, and Irena came under the spotlight after they entered into relationships, although Pablo was already well-known for his successful career as a handball player. Recently, Irena’s breakup with Juan Urquijo has been discussed, as well as Miguel’s happy relationship with Olympia Beracasa. While little is known about their private lives, even the rare joint photos speak volumes. As for Juan Valentín himself, there is practically nothing to report. Unverified reports have circulated suggesting he shares a flat in London with a possible partner, but no evidence has been presented. The only confirmed fact is his job at Extreme E, a company owned by Alejandro Agag that organizes eco-friendly electric vehicle championships.
Photographs remain virtually the only source of information about the lives of Infanta Cristina’s children, as all of them keep silent. Last August, Juan Valentín spent part of his vacation in Bidart, on the French coast, a place he had visited since childhood. This gave him the chance to spend time with both his mother and father, as well as his grandmother, recreating the atmosphere of years past. Summer pictures showed the warm relationship he maintains with both parents, even though they meticulously avoid meeting each other. Iñaki Urdangarin even left the family home for a while so that Infanta Cristina and Juan Valentín could stay there. Nothing is known about his current partner, Ainhoa Armentia—she did not appear in any of the photos.
In recent years, it is the eldest of the Urdangarin brothers who has become his mother’s official companion at various family events, whether at the weddings of Teresa Urquijo and Theodora of Greece or at the memorial service for Constantine of Greece in Windsor. He also never misses the annual visits to his grandfather, King Juan Carlos, in Abu Dhabi. Nevertheless, his absence, along with that of his cousin Victoria Federica, was quite noticeable at Princess Leonor’s 18th birthday celebration. Currently, only Pablo, the handball star, and Miguel, who apparently found a job in Madrid, reside in Spain permanently. With Irene studying in England and Cristina working from Geneva, the family remains separated. Could they be reunited soon? It’s quite likely, as they all come together for holidays. However, at home, they have to pay the price for their double surname — Urdangarin and de Borbón.
