The Spanish royal family’s summer holiday in 2025 is ending differently than planned. King Felipe VI is in Madrid, while Queen Letizia and their daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía, are reportedly continuing their private vacation in Greece. As a result, the royal couple is spending the final days of August in different countries, raising numerous questions.
Initially, the king’s return to Spain was prompted by extraordinary circumstances. The country was swept by the largest wildfires in the past 30 years, destroying hundreds of thousands of hectares in Galicia, Castilla y León, and Extremadura. In addition, a close friend of the monarch, musician Jaime Anglada, was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident. The king immediately visited him in hospital in Palma and also inspected the headquarters of the Military Emergency Unit (Unidad Militar de Emergencia, UME) at the Torrejón de Ardoz base.
However, nearly a week has passed since then, and the king’s official agenda remains empty. The acute phase of the firefighting effort has ended, and his visit to the affected regions, which requires coordination with the government, has been postponed — possibly due to the tense political climate. Although the monarch’s friend is still in serious condition, he is gradually recovering. This has led observers to wonder: why has Felipe VI not rejoined his family to spend the remainder of the holiday together?
While the king remains in the capital, other members of the Bourbon family have been spotted in Mallorca. In particular, Infanta Elena visited Palma, where she was photographed at the historic Ca’n Miquel ice cream parlor, a place she frequented as a child with her parents and brother. This nostalgic visit may reflect a desire among some family members to uphold the tradition of spending summer holidays in the Balearic Islands.
The most likely reason Felipe VI is staying at the Zarzuela Palace is cited as family circumstances. According to unofficial information, the king is supporting his mother, Queen Sofia, who is going through a difficult period as she cares for her ill sister, Princess Irene of Greece. Reports indicate that the princess’s health is a serious concern, and Queen Sofia is finding the situation very difficult.
It is believed that Queen Sofia’s children—Infantas Elena and Cristina, as well as King Felipe himself—have arranged to take turns staying with their mother so she is never alone. Since Infanta Cristina is spending the summer in Biarritz, France, the king’s presence in Madrid allows Infanta Elena to take a short break and spend a few days in Mallorca, at the Marivent Palace. This arrangement demonstrates the family’s unity in the face of personal challenges.
