King Felipe has accepted a silent pact regarding the Urdangarin matter, thus avoiding any public comment that could deeply unsettle Queen Letizia. Felipe has gone all the way with this decision, which has allowed Letizia to breathe a sigh of relief and feel at ease.
Given the good relationship they maintained in the past with Iñaki, the royals remain united in their goal of keeping their privacy. This way, the past and present of the former Duke of Palma have become part of that area that is off-limits to everyone.
King Felipe takes the final step for Queen Letizia's sake
Since they ascended to the throne, King Felipe and Queen Letizia have had to face numerous controversies. Perhaps the one that caused them the most pain on a personal level was the indictment and subsequent imprisonment of Iñaki Urdangarin. The reason? The good relationship they always maintained with the former Dukes of Palma.
For this reason, King Felipe has gone all the way with the matter by deciding not to speak about Urdangarin. There is a tacit pact within the walls of Zarzuela where Iñaki's name is banned to guarantee Queen Letizia's peace of mind. The mere mention of the former Duke of Palma has made Letizia uncomfortable on more than one occasion, and Felipe wants to avoid it.
In fact, he hasn't even changed the current situation of Infanta Cristina in the Royal Family's family tree. He hasn't included her separation from Iñaki, even though all national and international media confirmed it years ago. This is, therefore, King Felipe's way of not stirring up the past or present of the former Duke of Palma.
Above all, because in that past the royals played an essential role. Both Felipe and Letizia were great friends of Cristina and Iñaki. The queen got along perfectly with her brother-in-law, perhaps because she shared with him a past life that had nothing to do with royalty.
For this reason, the Nóos case was a low blow for Letizia, who felt betrayed by the only equal she had in the Royal Family. That's why just hearing his name, the queen can't help but show a gesture of discomfort.
King Felipe and Queen Letizia don't forget the worst betrayal
Palace life is full of pacts and secrets that, on many occasions, can change the course of history. Just ask Queen Letizia, who experienced up close a betrayal that was never thought would happen.
Infanta Cristina and Iñaki Urdangarin were a couple appreciated by the Crown until the investigations of the Nóos case began, arousing widespread suspicion. From that moment on, Felipe and Letizia avoided meeting with them and distanced themselves from the scandal.
With the Nóos case, Urdangarin not only took advantage of the Crown, he also helped create a bad image of the institution. King Felipe and Letizia had to weather the storm and work hard to erase the mark left by her brother-in-law. A mark that added to the controversial years of Juan Carlos's reign and made the work of the new royals even more difficult.
This discomfort is based on Letizia's perception that the Urdangarin matter directly affected institutional credibility and public family harmony. For all these reasons, a mutual silence has been agreed upon, which protects both the king's image and the queen's peace of mind.
In practice, this is reflected in avoiding statements or references to Urdangarin, both by King Felipe and by possible spokespersons. Felipe keeps a respectful silence on the subject, Letizia finds relief in this stance, and Iñaki, finally, is forced to accept this new institutional reality.