The birthday of Juan Carlos I sees the light two weeks later on the cover of Hola in a report signed by Laurence Debray

We don’t know why but the report on the 87th birthday of King Juan Carlos It took two weeks to see the light. The wait, however, has been worth it. Both the text and the images published by the magazine Hello are signed by Laurence Debraythe French journalist and writer who was a friend of the former monarch who already interviewed Infanta Elena for the same magazine a month ago. For now, Debray has had to accept the announced biography of Don Juan Carlos, or at least shelve it or postpone its publication. But she can be happy with this consolation prize that the weekly where she publishes her work will have been able to generously reward, because in addition to being an interesting document, it is an exclusive that can only be seen in that magazine and not in others.

What we see and read to a large extent confirms what was already advanced in its day Informalia: the 87th birthday of King Juan Carlos It doesn’t seem grotesque like the other one from a year ago that was also the cover of Hello with His Majesty cutting a cake and with the coat of arms of his House and other details. This time, as we already anticipated even before January 5, the celebration has been more endearing than ostentatious: a grandfather with his grandchildren and his daughters and a group of friends and loyalists, without Los Del Río, without the presence of any ex-lover , as was said, and in a magnificent hotel but not in his residence.

The author provides some information such as informing us that Don Juan Carlos no longer comes to Madrid because it breaks his heart not to be able to spend the night at his house.in Zarzuela, but in a hotel, as it seems his son arranged years ago, when the emeritus “expatriated”, an expression used by Debray in Hello. That was decided just after Felipe VI withdrew his allowance, a gesture that is not so important in economic terms (about 200,000 euros per year) but is an act loaded with meaning and symbolism.

Juan Carlos misses Madrid, above all, says the signatory, his sister “Margot”, although as everyone knows His Majesty visits Sanxenxo with some frequency to do regattas or the capital if the occasion requires it, such as the wedding of his great-niece with Mayor Almeida or for his daughter Elena’s 60th birthday in 2023.

Otherwise, What Laurence Debray says in Hello is that a group of thirty friends made the trip to accompany the Kinglike the previous year, when, for the first time since their expatriation to the Emirates four years ago, they organized a family and friendly celebration to mark his birthday. He says some were unable to attend due to health issues or family commitments, but have promised to do so next year.

He says that the objective of the celebration was “to break the isolation in which the King has found himself since he rebuilt his life on a small island off Abu Dhabi.”according to the writer. There he has the company of his grandson Froilán, he remembers and that the former monarch receives sporadic visits and looks forward to those of his daughters. He emphasizes that his trips to Spain “are increasingly scarce and brief, limited to events such as weddings or funerals”. “Staying in a hotel as an occasional tourist is painful for him and he prefers not to interfere in the life of his son or in the functioning of the Crown. It is a high price for someone who dedicated his life to Spain and who has always led the country in He can’t spend Christmas with his family, at home, but he doesn’t let the bitterness overcome him,” he explains.

On the eve of this birthday, says the magazine, Juan Carlos was surrounded by the affection of his daughters and grandchildren, and he received “moved” the kisses and congratulations of his loved ones at a dinner on the 4th. After midnight, he blew out the candles and we suspect that he made a wish. But we don’t know which one.