Ironically, New York has become the gathering place for key figures of the Spanish royal family in recent days. King Felipe VI, his father Juan Carlos I, and his sister, Infanta Elena, are all currently in the vast metropolis. However, this is not a planned family visit. Each has arrived in the Big Apple with a completely separate agenda, and although they are all in the same city, their paths appear to have no point of intersection.
For the reigning monarch, this trip is one of the most important of the year, an event with maximum global reach. Felipe VI is set to address the United Nations General Assembly. His speech will focus on a milestone date—the fiftieth anniversary of democracy in Spain, with celebrations set to become the central theme at the end of 2025 and throughout 2026. Notably, this coincides with the publication of his father’s memoirs. The king’s schedule is packed: in addition to his speech at the UN—where he is accompanied by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez—he has already attended an official reception hosted by Donald and Melania Trump. The agenda may also include resuming preparations for a state visit by the Spanish monarchs to the White House, which was postponed five years ago due to the pandemic and has yet to be rescheduled.
While Felipe is engaged in a diplomatic marathon, his father and sister are immersed in the excitement of sports. Juan Carlos I has arrived in New York to take part in the international 6-metre class sailing world championship. Together with his crew aboard the famous “Bribón,” he is defending his champion title. In addition to the competition, the honorary king unveiled a new trophy named after him—the ‘King Juan Carlos Cup’—in recognition of his contribution to the development of this sailing class in Spain. His eldest daughter, Infanta Elena, is also present to support her father and to compete in the regatta with her own team. Their days are filled with races and active social life among athletes.
Thus, two completely different worlds of the same family have collided in New York. On one hand, there is the official mission, protocol, and high politics. On the other—sport, leisure, and interaction in a more informal setting. This raises a natural question: will father, son, and sister find time to meet, even if in private? The last time they were seen together was in December 2023 at Infanta Elena’s 60th birthday celebration in a Madrid restaurant. Even then, they did not pose together, leaving the venue separately. Since then, there have been more joint photos of Felipe VI and Juan Carlos, but all three appearing together would be a real sensation. For now, all that remains is to wonder whether something that hasn’t happened at home might occur far from Madrid.
