The summer season of 2025 has been packed with trips for King Felipe VI’s sisters, Infanta Elena and Infanta Cristina, to places closely tied to their past. Both women’s vacations were marked by circumstances that led to awkward coincidences and carefully orchestrated efforts to avoid unwanted encounters.
Infanta Cristina spent part of her holidays in the French town of Bidart. This place holds special significance for her, as she still co-owns property there with her former husband, Iñaki Urdangarin. The former couple’s visits were arranged so that their time in the town would not overlap. Urdangarin traveled to Bidart first, and after his departure, Infanta Cristina arrived. Their son, Juan Urdangarin, spent time separately with each parent. This situation once again drew attention to the family amid recent reports about the young man’s alleged emotional struggles, which Cristina’s circle has denied. Notably, Urdangarin’s current partner, Ainhoa Armentia, has not been seen in France this year.
At the same time, Infanta Elena chose Mallorca for her vacation, arriving there without her children. Her visit to the Balearic Islands began on August 18, almost immediately after King Felipe, Queen Letizia, and their daughters left their summer residence, the Palacio de Marivent. However, the monarch later returned to the island, and his stay coincided with his sister’s holiday. It remains unknown whether the Infanta stayed at the royal family’s usual residence, but the overlap in their schedules sparked interest among observers.
The absence of Infanta Elena’s children, Victoria Federica and Froilán, has become common in recent years. They prefer to spend the summer holidays on their own. Victoria Federica has been spotted at social events in Marbella, while her brother attracted attention due to his behavior at Ibiza nightclubs and at a music festival in Asturias. Prior to her trip to Mallorca, Infanta Elena combined participation in equestrian competitions in Germany with attending a wedding in Toledo, where she met her ex-husband Jaime de Marichalar.
