Infanta Cristina is making headlines again. A new chapter threatens to strain her relationship with key figures in her inner circle even further. From Zarzuela, all eyes are once again on her, with a silence full of meaning.
In recent weeks, speculation has grown about Infanta's mood and a possible distancing from people very close to her. Sources aren't talking about an open conflict, but rather about a discomfort that lingers in private. What has come to light isn't related to legal cases or her marital past.
A path marked by light and shadow
Infanta Cristina has combined academic and professional achievements with episodes that damaged her reputation. She was the first woman in the royal family to earn a university degree and worked in international organizations. However, her marriage to Iñaki Urdangarin and the Nóos case forever changed her role in the Crown.
In 2011, the accusations against Urdangarin and his legal involvement triggered an unprecedented media earthquake. The image of Infanta on the defendants' bench went around the world and deeply hurt her prestige. Since then, the distance with part of the royal family has become more evident.
Felipe VI's accession to the throne in 2014 was another blow to her public trajectory. The new monarch decided to remove his sister from the official agenda and strip her of the title Duchess of Palma. That decision confirmed her status as an absent figure in the institutional life of the Crown.
The relationship between Cristina and Queen Sofía is at its most fragile point
Recently, royal expert journalist Héloïse Broseta has revealed a detail that sheds light on the current tension. This information would be sad news for Infanta Cristina, whose relationship with the queen isn't at its best.
According to her, Queen Sofía would be disappointed with her youngest daughter: "She wasn't what her parents desired." Her position in the line of succession and her role within the royal family have always placed her in the background. The combination of a complicated public life and private decisions would have reinforced her mother's perception.
This disappointment wouldn't be linked only to Infanta's legal past. The expert claims that Sofía regrets certain personal and professional decisions that have distanced Cristina from the discreet image she values. In private, she would have expressed her regret at not seeing some expectations fulfilled.
This situation is bad news for Cristina. Despite the support of her father and her children, her mother's disappointment feels like a significant emotional blow. The fact highlights that, even outside the public eye, family tensions continue to shape her daily life.
An uncertain future and a small circle
Currently, Cristina lives in Geneva, where she works for the Aga Khan Foundation. She keeps a low profile and travels to Spain to visit her children and closest family. Her presence at official events is practically nonexistent.
Her support network is limited to a close circle of friends and her children, with whom she keeps a strong bond. With her father, King Juan Carlos, she keeps frequent contact and they meet in Abu Dhabi. There, they share moments away from public attention.
Her mother's disappointment, however, seems to be the hardest shadow to dispel. Although there are no official statements, leaks suggest that this distance could continue. For Infanta, this places her at a personal crossroads with an uncertain outcome.