December 2025 saw the release of the memoirs of honorary king Juan Carlos, which immediately sparked a major scandal. The former monarch’s recollections include numerous ambiguous passages about the inner workings of the Spanish royal family, but most of the criticism targeted Queen Letizia. In his writings, the honorary king sharply criticizes his daughter-in-law’s actions, turning the publication into a serious challenge for the monarchy’s image and its official policy of not responding to such attacks.
One key episode that Juan Carlos highlights is the infamous incident at the Palma de Mallorca cathedral during the 2018 Easter service. There, in front of dozens of cameras, Queen Letizia conspicuously prevented Queen Sofia from posing for a photo with her granddaughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia. In his memoirs, Juan Carlos writes that after his abdication, he appeared in public with the family only once—on that very day, to show unity. However, he says, it turned into a complete fiasco. He insists the scene was entirely spontaneous and Letizia’s anger was genuine, making it impossible for palace media to smooth over or distort what had happened.
The former monarch’s memoirs also reveal the extent of the family rift, particularly the challenges the grandparents faced in communicating with their granddaughters. Juan Carlos bitterly notes that Queen Sofía was never allowed to spend time alone with the girls during their summer holidays in Palma. In his view, this only added further strain to an already complicated relationship, especially given that the family members’ residences are located so close to each other.
The altercation in the cathedral quickly spread far beyond Spain, sparking international controversy. Relatives on Queen Sofía’s side—Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece and his wife Marie-Chantal Miller—made no effort to hide their indignation and openly supported her on social media. This move led to a years-long chill in relations between the Spanish and Greek royal families, which reportedly was not resolved until 2024. Using his memoirs as a platform, Juan Carlos I confirms the seriousness of the conflict and cements Queen Letizia’s reputation as a constant source of discord.
RUSSPAIN Reference. Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, before marrying Crown Prince Felipe, was a prominent journalist and TV presenter. She worked for major channels such as CNN+ and Televisión Española, covering major global events including the September 11 attacks in the US and the Iraq War. Her marriage to the future king in 2004 was significant, as she became the first Spanish-born commoner destined to be queen consort. Before her union with Felipe, Letizia was in a civil marriage, which was later dissolved. Her entry into the royal family was initially met with mixed reactions, but over time she gained popularity thanks to her work and sense of style.
