The Royal Family has seen alarms go off, metaphorically, in their circle. All because new and shocking information has come out about King Juan Carlos.
What happened is that Bárbara Rey, who was his lover, has given an interview. In it, she provides surprising and unexpected details about the emeritus. Among these, that he is stingy, and that he went so far as to interfere forcefully in her life to get close to her.
The royal family worries about the latest shocking details about King Juan Carlos
King Juan Carlos has recently made headlines for his intentions to move to Portugal or Spain. But today, he is back in the spotlight because of what has happened. We are referring to Bárbara Rey, with whom he had an affair in the past, who has revealed shocking things about him in an interview.
Specifically, the vedette spoke to El País, as she is about to publish her autobiography titled Yo, Bárbara. In the pages of that outlet, she made statements that must have set off alarms in the royal family. Yes, because she once again puts the Crown in check, through the details she has exposed about the emeritus.
For example, she has made it clear that Felipe VI's father is stingy, since "he never gave me anything. He had a few little gestures, a bracelet or two, but nothing of economic value. Others who came after me have gotten an impressive deal."
The vedette's honesty has been unbelievable. One of the most sensitive points came when she spoke about how the relationship began. According to her confession, King Juan Carlos's behavior in trying to win her over was not exactly respectful.
Her exact words were these: "His persistence was tremendous. It was an intrusion into my life, to put it one way."
A phrase that is not only surprising for its directness, but also because it questions the way the romance was forged. It suggests that, more than a passionate romance, it was a relationship marked by imbalance and pressure.
Impact on the royal family: King Juan Carlos's image shakes once again
The Spanish royal family finds themselves in a delicate situation. Although King Juan Carlos abdicated in 2014 and is no longer an active part of the institution, his figure continues to attract controversy. Statements like those from Bárbara Rey do not help improve public perception.
The fact that she now describes him as "the man who has hurt me the most" has caused quite a stir. It goes beyond a romantic disappointment; it speaks of a deep emotional impact, of wounds that have not healed. That, inevitably, puts the emeritus back at the center of an uncomfortable debate.
However, in a twist few expected, the vedette has also shown a certain leniency toward him. Although she has denounced his personal behavior, she has acknowledged that he has played an important role in history: "He has done very good things for this country. The fact that he did not treat me well doesn't take away from his merit in other things."
A clarification that tries to separate the private from the institutional, but doesn't prevent the impact of her revelations from being strong. Because we are talking about a figure who, although he no longer holds the throne, is still the father of the current monarch, Felipe VI. Therefore, any scandal that touches him inevitably also affects the rest of the royal household.
The question hanging in the air is clear: how much more can King Juan Carlos's public image withstand? By extension, how will this affect the stability and reputation of the royal family?
Yes, because although Felipe VI has tried to distance himself from his father's most controversial legacy, the shadows continue to haunt the institution. Bárbara Rey's statements, far from being anecdotal, point to underlying issues that directly affect the Crown's credibility.