As the long-awaited memoirs of Isabel Preysler, in which she promises to reveal her ‘true story,’ are about to be released, old family conflicts are resurfacing. An especially relevant point is a candid interview given several years ago by Miguel Boyer Arnedo, the son of the late ex-minister from his first marriage. His words shed light on the dramatic events that remained behind the scenes for decades in one of Spain’s most well-known families.
The split between Miguel Boyer and his first wife, renowned gynecologist Elena Arnedo, became a real emotional earthquake for their children, Miguel and his sister Laura, who has since passed away. The politician’s highly publicized romance with Preysler, widely covered by the media, did nothing to mend family ties. On the contrary, it built an insurmountable wall between family members, leaving behind deep and lasting wounds.
In his account, the son paints a rather unflattering portrait of his father. He strongly disagreed with the image of a ‘model family man’ that was put forward at the funeral. According to his son, people who reach such career heights are rarely good by nature. He believed his father’s life was a series of betrayals: first leaving physics for economics, then abandoning a successful political career among the socialists, and ultimately, his first family.
Miguel Boyer Arnedo stated that his father was unable to build warm relationships even with his own brothers and nephews, highlighting the former minister’s difficult character. According to his son, over time his father turned into a sort of public figure—a mask hiding his true self. This transformation, he believed, pushed them further apart.
His remarks about Isabel Preysler were mostly neutral—neither openly hostile nor warm. He recalled that after his father’s death, his stepmother pointed out how positively the press spoke of the deceased. However, this meant nothing to him. He stressed that he didn’t need journalists’ opinions to understand what kind of person his father was, as he had lost faith in him long ago.
Miguel Boyer Arnedo himself chose a life far removed from his parents’ world. With a diverse education ranging from the exact sciences to sociology and journalism, he built his own career and now leads a completely private life, dedicating himself to his family and raising three children away from media attention.
