The veil of secrecy that had long shrouded Juan Urdangarin’s private life in London has been lifted. Photos have surfaced online showing the eldest son of Infanta Cristina and Iñaki Urdangarin kissing his partner. Until recently, nothing was known about her, but now her identity has been revealed. Her name is Sofia Khan, and, most surprisingly, her romance with the king’s nephew has been going on for about a year. This news came as a real surprise, as the 26-year-old Juan has always guarded his private life from prying eyes, and until now there had not been a single hint of a romantic relationship.
Juan’s partner, Sofia Khan, is originally from Canada. She received an outstanding education at one of the UK’s most prestigious universities, St. Andrews, and also holds a master’s degree in sustainable development and management. In addition, she is a certified Pilates instructor. According to her professional profile, her career began in hospitality, working for a restaurant group in Toronto. Later, her path led her to the organizing team of the E1 Series electric boat championship. It was there, in the fast-paced world of high speeds and innovation—founded by Alejandro Agag, the son-in-law of former president José María Aznar—that her journey crossed with Juan’s, who started working for Formula E as an assistant producer several years ago.
Juan is the latest of the Urdangarin children whose private life has become public. His siblings have already introduced their partners to the world, though with varying degrees of success. For example, his brother Pablo’s relationship with Johanna Zott appears strong and steady; she’s often seen in the stands next to Infanta Cristina during handball matches. His younger sister Irene has been less fortunate: her romance, which lasted just over a year, ended this summer. The likely reason was distance — she studies in England, while her boyfriend lives in Madrid. Their relationship grew out of childhood friendship and a shared social circle.
Last year, the relationship of the youngest brother, Miguel, also came to light. His girlfriend, Olympia Beracasa from Venezuela, had known him since their school days in Geneva, where Infanta Cristina lived for many years with her children. However, their true feelings didn’t emerge until they both moved to Madrid to continue their studies.
Now all eyes are on how Juan Urdangarin’s relationship will unfold. Will it be as strong as his brother Pablo’s, or will it fail to withstand the challenges, like his sister Irene’s? Judging by the affectionate photos of the couple strolling through the streets of London, they seem to have every chance at a happy future.
