Felipe Juan Froilán de Todos los Santos, simply known as Froilán, turns 27 on July 17 in Abu Dhabi. While some celebrate with family or surrounded by friends, the son of Infanta Elena does so far from Spain and out of the public eye.
According to the information provided, he will do so in the strictest privacy. For now, it is unknown whether Infanta Elena or Victoria Federica will travel to the Emirates to accompany him, although everything suggests that will not be the case. However, as confirmed by royal family expert Pilar Eyre, Froilán plans to return to Spain in the coming weeks to enjoy the summer.
This anniversary has not gone unnoticed by Pilar Eyre. On her channel Al Aire, she has confirmed and analyzed several unknown aspects of Froilán's current situation, revealing details that, she claims, have left a mark on Infanta Elena. What is hidden behind this geographical and emotional distance? What role has his family played in this story?
Pilar Eyre confirms Froilán's present and its impact on Infanta Elena
From the moment of his birth, Froilán became a recognizable face to the public. He was the first grandchild of then-kings Juan Carlos and Sofía, and the firstborn of Infanta Elena and Jaime de Marichalar. A child born under the flashes, with an involuntary prominence that marked his early years.
Pilar Eyre recalls how, from his earliest days, everything surrounding Froilán caused reactions. "He was very amusing, he was photographed a lot, there was a lot of talk with his parents and from the very beginning he was controversial," she states.
While his family and close circle call him Pipe, the press preferred to simply call him Froilán. The journalist has revealed how Froilán is at 27, stating that he leads a much more stable life than many imagine. For the past two years, he has lived in Abu Dhabi, far from the media pressure that pursued him for years.
According to Eyre, this decision was made by Infanta Elena after a period of constant scandals. "What is certain is that the family wants to keep him away from here," she asserts. A statement that leaves no room for doubt: Froilán's exile was not voluntary, but a measure to preserve his image and peace of mind.
This separation, however, has not been easy for his mother. The journalist points out that Infanta Elena has suffered in silence because of this distance and that, although she keeps in touch with him, the situation has left a deep emotional mark on her. A mother who has seen her son grow up among headlines and controversies, and who now watches him mature from afar.
The royal family expert confirms Froilán has a party-loving but not troublemaking character
Froilán has been at the center of multiple controversies in Spain. From fights in nightclubs to questionable behavior at public events, the young man has built a reputation as "troublesome." However, according to Eyre, this doesn't reflect the full reality.
"He was a very controversial child, but he was also provoked a lot (...) People would go out of their way to provoke the king's grandson. He likes to party, he really enjoys going out, but most of the fights were not started by him, there are some very bad people," the journalist says, trying to offer a more understanding perspective.
A testimony collected by Eyre supports this: "A friend of mine who had the chance to be with him told me that he is a very serious, very responsible young man." Today, Froilán works at a multinational company in the United Arab Emirates thanks to his studies in Marketing and Advertising, and to the contacts of his grandfather, Juan Carlos I.
Froilán's tense relationship with his father, Jaime de Marichalar
One of the most delicate points in Eyre's account has been the relationship between Froilán and his father, Jaime de Marichalar. The journalist has not hesitated to be clear: "He has a very good relationship with his mother, but not with his father."
The estrangement, she explains, has deep roots. "After the stroke Marichalar suffered in 2001, his character changed, he became much more irascible," Eyre explains. This transformation deeply affected the family environment, plunging Froilán and his sister into a tense and cold dynamic.
"Many will think he had a golden childhood, but it was actually very unhappy," she concludes. Unlike Froilán, Victoria Federica does keep a close relationship with her father, sharing a passion for fashion, appearing together at fashion shows and on vacations in Sotogrande. A contrast that highlights the still open wounds between Marichalar and his eldest son.
Froilán's life has been marked by public scrutiny, his own mistakes, and difficult family decisions. Infanta Elena, as Pilar Eyre confirms, has borne the emotional consequences of this story. Meanwhile, the young man continues to write his own story, far from the noise, but not from the weight of his surname.