Did the former Spanish king spread gossip about Queen Letizia’s ‘affair’ with her brother-in-law, out of revenge on his son? Spanish media accuse Juan Carlos’ allies of ‘mounting a campaign’ after Felipe VI ‘frozen the exiled monarch amid scandal’
The former king of Spain has been accused of playing a role in “fueling” rumors about an alleged affair between Queen Letizia and her former brother-in-law.
The Spanish royal family has been rocked by shocking claims from businessman Jaime Del Burgo, who sensationally claimed he had a relationship with 51-year-old Letizia before and after her marriage to King Felipe.
Del Burgo subsequently married Letizia’s sister, Telma Ortiz, from whom he is now divorced. The Spanish court has repeatedly refused to comment on the allegations.
In a new twist, a veteran Spanish journalist has accused supporters of the former king, who is all but excluded from the royal family, of mounting a ‘campaign’ against his son Felipe.
Referring to the claims, popular radio host Federico Jiménez Losantos said: “It’s the ‘nth’ campaign against Felipe VI,” before adding: “It’s Juan Carlos’s circles that are stirring things up.”
Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI of Spain, pictured at a charity event on December 13
A veteran Spanish journalist has accused supporters of former King Juan Carlos I (pictured) of bringing forward the damaging allegations
Juan Carlos reigned as king of Spain from 1975 to 2014, when he abdicated in favor of his son.
The official reason was given as his age, but a series of controversies followed and there were suggestions that he was pressured to give up the throne to protect the institution.
The corruption scandals in which he has been embroiled since handing over power to King Felipe VI, whose wife Letizia is a former journalist, have left his reputation in tatters.
He now lives in Abu Dhabi, and Spanish media have quoted sources close to the former monarch as saying he is angry at having been disowned by his family.
Now the latest rumors have plunged the Spanish monarchy into a new scandal.
Del Burgo, 53, currently based in Britain, recently contributed to a comprehensive book about the 51-year-old Spanish royal family Letizia y Yo (Letizia and I).
In it, he claims he and Letizia were dating when she met Felipe and were still in a relationship after her 2004 marriage to the Spanish king.
Following the claims, the entrepreneur shared a selfie the Queen took in the mirror during one of her pregnancies as ‘proof’ of their relationship.
The selfie shows the royal in a black pashmina – which Jaime claims was his – and he also typed a message into his social media post, allegedly sent to him by the Spanish Queen.
Jaime Del Burgo and his ex-wife Telma Ortiz were seen before their wedding in 2012. The couple separated in 2014
Businessman Jaime Del Burgo shared this invisible selfie of Queen Letizia with his X followers. He claimed the royal wore his pashmina and said he ‘took care of her’
It read: ‘Love. I’m wearing your pashmina. It’s like I feel you by my side. It takes care of me. It protects me. I’m counting the hours until we meet again. Love you. Go away. Yours,’
Spanish media have reported other messages he allegedly posted on X, which the entrepreneur reportedly deleted shortly after publication. It pointed out that they had a secret affair after Letizia married Felipe.
After sharing the selfie, other
Father-of-two Del Burgo divorced Letizia’s sister by mutual consent in 2016, four years after they married and two years after they split.