Queen Sofía celebrates her 85th birthday with an intimate family meal marked by absences

Day marked in red for Queen Sofía, who turns 85 this Thursday, November 2. A round figure worth celebrating, which is why the emerita has planned an intimate lunch at the Palacio de La Zarzuela to blow out the candles surrounded by a large part of her family.

A meeting with her children and grandchildren that occurs just 2 days after Princess Leonor’s 18th birthday, a historic event in which her paternal grandmother had an anecdotal role by not being present at the swearing-in of the Constitution in the Cortes or in the subsequent imposition of the Collar of the Order of Charles III in the Royal Palace. A decision that was made after Casa Real left Don Juan Carlos I off the guest list.

A striking absence in the institutional acts of the coming of age of the heir to the throne that many do not understand and that could have affected Doña Sofía. Just a few days ago, she burst into tears at the tribute to scientist Emilio Lora-Tamayo. The queen emeritus, an example of discretion when it comes to showing her feelings in public, was very moved to see the scientist whom she has admired for many years.

It has been a difficult year for Felipe VI’s mother. In January, her beloved brother, Constantine of Greece, died, and it is speculated that her sister Irene of Greece, her best friend and great supporter, would suffer from an illness that little by little is erasing her memories, as published by Readings. .

However, the Emeritus demonstrates her great strength and this Thursday she will celebrate a family meal that, much to her regret, will once again be marked by absences. Firstly, that of King Juan Carlos, who after his express trip to Madrid to attend the private party for Princess Leonor’s coming of age, left our country on October 31 at the end of the night. After stopping in London, on Wednesday the emeritus flew to Abu Dhabi, so he will not be present at his wife’s birthday.

Nor will there be, in the absence of official confirmation, the Princess of Asturias or Infanta Sofía, who would have respectively returned to the Military Academy of Zaragoza and the UWC Atlantic College in Wales to continue their military and academic training. King Felipe has three military audiences at the Royal Palace this Thursday, the last one at 12:55 p.m., so everything indicates that he will be able to attend the lunch organized by his mother. Queen Letizia has a clear agenda of events, so she could also attend.

Those who will go to give a hug to Doña Sofía are her daughters, Elena and Cristina. Felipe VI’s sisters would not miss their mother’s birthday for anything. Also attending will be Irene and Miguel Urdangarin, who arrived in Madrid several days ago to attend Leonor’s coming of age celebration, and her brother Pablo, who landed in the capital this Wednesday after his unexpected absence on his birthday. cousin.

Juan Urdangarin will not be there, due to professional commitments with Formula E; Victoria Federica, traveling in Peru with her friends, nor Froilán, who returned to Dubai this November 1 after three days in our country.

An 85th birthday marked therefore by absences and of which no details will be revealed as it is a strictly private celebration in which Queen Sofia will blow out the candles in a different atmosphere than her 80th anniversary in 2018, which was the last time she The King’s family was completely reunited. An image that not even Princess Leonor’s coming of age has managed to repeat.