The truth about the biography of Juan Carlos I, according to Carlos Herrera: “It will come out when he wants”

News is being published regarding the emeritus king’s biography. For three years, Juan Carlos I has been writing his memoirs in Abu Dhabi with the help of Carlos Herrera. The biography of the emeritus king, which was prepared and almost finished by the COPE radio journalist, remains “frozen” at Random House, waiting for Don Felipe’s father to give the green light for the publication of the book. Don Juan Carlos is particularly interested in giving his version of the 23-F Coup d’Etat, for which he has asked for notes and information from witnesses who experienced it first hand. The emeritus king has stopped publishing, as we published in Informalia in December 2023.

Herrera’s presenter on COPE has visited the former head of state twice at his residence in the Emirates. In fact, he was the one who shared the above photograph on his Instagram account. At their meeting in January 2022, Carlos revealed that they talked about health, he said that he found him “much thinner” and “looking enormously healthy.” He added: “Juan Carlos de Borbón’s state of health is as desirable as that of a person of his age can be. He looks like I haven’t seen him in a long time.” On these trips, the journalist took the opportunity to finish off the last details of the royal biography. It should be remembered that before the expatriation of the emeritus, in August 2020, the journalist spent a year and a half visiting him at the Zarzuela palace.

The father of Felipe VI He was still correcting and adding data to the book, including private documentation about the attempt of coup d’état of February 23, 1981, But for the moment the former monarch does not want to give the green light to the publication of what appears to be his definitive story, the one he wants to be told, perhaps waiting for his return to Spain to be resolved. Carlos Herrera assures that the book will be published “when the King wants it.”

Just a few hours ago, we saw the emeritus in Madrid, where the funeral of Juan Gómez-Acebo was held. Two months after his last visit to Spain, King Juan Carlos returned to our country to say his last goodbye to his nephew, who died on August 12 in Palma de Mallorca due to cancer, and with whom the Emeritus had a very special relationship.

At the Cathedral of the Armed Forces he met up with King Felipe and Queen Letizia, Queen Sofia and the rest of his family. Among them were Infanta Cristina and her children Pablo, Miguel and Irene Urdangarin, and Victoria Federica and Froilán. Infanta Elena did not attend, as she travelled to the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games in Paris representing the Royal Family. Juan Carlos arrived in Madrid last Friday and chose the exclusive Four Season Hotel. A detail that has been widely commented on by the media because the emeritus King has once again been prevented from spending the night in Zarzuela.