At the height of the action during the Catalonia Super Cup handball final, the spotlight wasn’t only on the court, but also on the stands. There, away from the flash of cameras, Infanta Cristina provided quiet yet tangible support to her daughter, Irene Urdangarin. This joint appearance was Irene’s first since the news of her breakup, and it spoke volumes about the family’s unity during challenging times.
While her cousin, Victoria Federica de Marichalar, is handling her summer romantic setbacks by embracing social life and her work as an influencer, Irene has chosen a completely different approach. She has all but disappeared from the public eye, preferring silence and solitude over publicity. She spent the summer regaining her emotional balance with those closest to her: first in Greece, on a trip organized by her mother, and then in Bidart, where she spent several days with her father, Iñaki Urdangarin. For Irene, family has become her main source of support.
Before packing her bags to return to the United Kingdom, where she continues her studies in hotel management, Irene and her mother came to support her brother Pablo. They were his biggest fans at his team’s match, Fraikin BM Granollers, against the powerful Barça—a club linked to their father’s illustrious career. Unfortunately, there was no miracle this time. Pablo’s team lost 38-25, and he didn’t score a single goal. But the result didn’t matter. What truly counted were the warm hugs, encouraging gestures, and gentle touches the Infanta Cristina shared with her daughter throughout the match, held at the sports complex in Esplugues de Llobregat.
Photographers managed to capture touching moments: Irene’s expressions shifted from smiles to pensive looks, while her mother gently held her hand, trying to distract her from sad thoughts. The attention between brother and sister was equally heartfelt. They exchanged heart-shaped gestures and even performed their special greeting—a meeting of index fingers that only the two of them understood.
Irene’s relationship with Juan Urquijo, the son-in-law of the mayor of Madrid, began last autumn, but only became known in the summer. The romance was discreet and left behind hardly any public evidence. The breakup has been attributed to the long distance between Oxford and Madrid, as well as the different life priorities of the two at this stage. It appears they have managed to remain friends. Now, for Irene, it is time to say goodbye to Spain and fully immerse herself in her studies at Brookes University. Meanwhile, her former boyfriend prefers to remain silent in Madrid, avoiding any questions from journalists.
