The publication of the memoirs of honorific king Juan Carlos brought many surprises, but perhaps the biggest one was the unexpected emergence of a new figure within the Bourbon family — Laurence Debray. Few could have imagined that a French journalist, daughter of the renowned philosopher and revolutionary Régis Debray, would become the main defender of the Spanish monarch. Yet paradoxes do occur, and Laurence’s presence in the royal circle sparked debate from the outset. She became not only the chronicler of Juan Carlos’s life but also a close friend of Infanta Elena, accompanying her on trips to Sanxenxo.
Long before the memoirs were released, Debray effectively acted as the unofficial spokesperson for the Bourbons, publishing articles in Hola magazine that sometimes provoked strong reactions. Her candid admiration for Juan Carlos helped strengthen their relationship since 2014. This connection culminated in the book “Mon roi déchu” (“My Fallen King”), published in 2021. The work was an intimate account, based on phone conversations and WhatsApp messages, offering a detailed look at the monarch’s departure from Spain and his strained relationship with his son, King Felipe VI.
To work on her memoirs, the journalist moved with her family to Abu Dhabi, where she spent three years working closely with the honorary king. There is no longer any doubt about their closeness, as Laurence herself recounts. “The king keeps a close eye on the book’s presentations,” she shared during her promotional tour in France, a month before the Spanish release. “We talk very often, and I relay the contents of interviews and articles to him in detail. We worked tirelessly for three years in an atmosphere of absolute confidentiality.”
A decade after personally meeting Juan Carlos, whom she had long considered a historic hero, Laurence Debray continues to speak of him with youthful enthusiasm, like a true fan. “I’m not bothered by criticism, because this is the life of Don Juan Carlos, and I was fortunate enough to be its listener,” she said in one interview, commenting on the stir caused by the monarch’s revelations. “He is someone I admire and for whom I feel immense gratitude and affection,” the journalist admitted.
Laurence Debray has never sought to remain in the shadows, as evidenced by the countless interviews she gave both before and after her book was published. There were rumors that the Frenchwoman was not very pleased with the almost total lack of a publicity campaign for her memoir in Spain, where she was given little prominence. To address this sudden ‘invisibility’, a launch party was recently organized at one of the galleries. Laurence Debray attended the event alongside the three women most devoted to the honorary king from the Bourbon family: Infanta Elena and the monarch’s nieces, Simoneta Gómez-Acebo and María Zurita.
When journalists asked her about any possible discontent from the Royal Family caused by the book, Debré assured them she knew nothing about it, as if her closeness to the Bourbons was of no consequence. Nevertheless, her warm words, devotion and admiration, her status as a member of Juan Carlos’s inner circle—evidenced by their life together in Abu Dhabi—and her close friendship with Infanta Elena explain the witty nickname “the fifth infanta.” Coined by journalist Martín Bianchi, the moniker seems highly fitting. Debré would come after infantas Elena and Cristina, Infanta Margarita (Juan Carlos’s sister), and Infanta Sofía (the youngest daughter of King Felipe and Queen Letizia). The comparison with the king’s daughters is not accidental: rumors of a possible affair between the Frenchwoman and the monarch quickly faded due to their absurdity. The idea that she has taken on the role of an adopted daughter, however, appears far more plausible. Hence the title of “infanta”—if not bestowed by the Bourbons themselves, then certainly by her own volition.
For reference, Juan Carlos I de Borbón reigned as Spain’s monarch from 1975 to 2014. He played a pivotal role in guiding Spain’s transition from Franco’s dictatorship to democracy, earning him widespread popularity. However, in the later years of his rule, his reputation was tarnished by a series of scandals, including allegations of corruption and extramarital affairs. In 2014, he abdicated in favor of his son, Felipe VI. In August 2020, amid ongoing investigations into his finances, Juan Carlos left Spain and has lived in Abu Dhabi ever since.
