Juan Carlos I He is clear: the separation between his daughter Cristina e Iñaki Urdangarin must be formalized. The emeritus king has advised the princess to divorce the father of the former Duke of Palma once and for all, even accepting some of the financial requests that he suggests.
In a telephone conversation, Juan Carlos I conveyed to his daughter his firm opinion: she has to sign the divorce papers once and for all. An assessment that the sister of Felipe VI and the Infanta Elena did not want to accept, since “He is not going to grant him everything Urdangarin wants. And even less with their children involved,” according to reports The Digital Confidential.
The conversation between father and daughter was “tense”, like those that Infanta Cristina has had lately with Urdangarin to reach an agreement that satisfies, above all, her children. Juan, Pablo, Miguel and Irene. Sources close to the family tell the aforementioned media that the negotiation may come to a successful conclusion, although, for the moment, little progress has been made in the negotiations.
Infanta Cristina and the former handball player announced their decision to go their separate ways in January 2022, after images of the former duke with his new girlfriend came to light, Ainhoa Armentia. “By mutual agreement, we have decided to interrupt our marital relationship. Our commitment to our children remains intact. Since it is a private decision, we ask for the utmost respect from everyone around us. Cristina de Borbón and Iñaki Urdangarin,” they reported.
From then on, both parties began a process that has not been concluded. Once his daughter Irene came of age, Urdangarin received a financial amount of around one million euros as compensation for the book that he was recommended to write and which he renounced. And that’s not all, because once the divorce is finalized, she will receive another million in a single payment or in installments. The athlete also increased his salary, going from the 6,000 euros agreed in the marriage agreements to 25,000 euros per month due to divorce. And he has kept the escort of him.
The infanta gave in to these points for a series of issues. To start, there are two properties. Both of them have a lot of emotional burden for her. The houses of Bidart and Baqueira Beret. Infanta Cristina has settled with the property of Bidart and granted Urdangarin the enjoyment of this home. The former duke achieved one of his objectives: to stay with Bidart, but not with Baqueira Beret. The ski resort house was a red line for the infanta. It is a chalet that the royal family enjoys in usufruct. Iñaki, no longer part of it, can no longer set foot on it.
Another point on which there was agreement is money. Urdangarin received half of the compensation that was set for his years of marriage with the daughter of the emeritus Kings, which reaches one million euros. In addition, his pay has been established at 25,000 euros per month as a compensatory pension. Why did the infanta give in?
Cristina was invisible in the Royal House since the Noos case broke out. She lost her title as Duchess of Palma. She left Spain and settled in Geneva, after living in Washington. Cristina disappeared from the public scene. We have only seen her coincide with her brother, the king. Philip VI, at funerals, like his aunt Infanta Pilar or that of his uncle Constantine of Greece. Now the infanta wants to turn the page. The only way to start over is to close a divorce whose process has dragged on for almost two years.
As reported InformaliaLast October, Doña Elena commented that once Cristina’s meeting with the emeritus took place, her sister’s and Urdangarin’s lawyers would close the final financial agreement prior to signing before a notary that will attest to the end of the marriage. “In a matter of weeks,” she repeated. “But surely before the end of the year,” he said.