Infanta Cristina of Spain

Cristina de Borbón
Infanta of Spain

Infanta Cristina at the GAVI Alliance conference in London, 13 June 2011
Born (1965-06-13) 13 June 1965
Madrid, Spain
Spouse Iñaki Urdangarín (m. 1997)
Issue Juan Urdangarín y de Borbón
Pablo Urdangarín y de Borbón
Miguel Urdangarín y de Borbón
Irene Urdangarín y de Borbón
Full name
Cristina Federica Victoria Antonia de Borbón y de Grecia
House Bourbon
Father Juan Carlos I of Spain
Mother Sophia of Greece and Denmark
Religion Roman Catholic
Signature
Royal styles of
Cristina de Borbón
Reference style Her Royal Highness
Spoken style Your Royal Highness
Alternative style Ma'am

Infanta Cristina of Spain (Cristina Federica Victoria Antonia de la Santísima Trinidad de Borbón y de Grecia, born 13 June 1965) is a Spanish princess, the younger daughter of King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía of Spain. As of 2015 she is sixth in the line of succession to the Spanish throne, after her brother King Felipe VI's children, her sister Elena, and Elena's children.

Birth

Cristina de Borbón was born in Madrid and was baptized into the Church at the Palacio de La Zarzuela by the Archbishop of Madrid. Her godparents were Alfonso, Duke of Anjou and Cádiz (her first cousin once removed), and Infanta Maria Cristina of Spain (great-aunt).

Education

The Infanta received her secondary education at Santa María del Camino School before graduating from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid in 1989 with a degree in political science. She pursued postgraduate studies at New York University, obtaining an MA in international relations in 1990. In 1991, she gained practical experience working at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

She speaks fluent Spanish, Catalan, English and Greek.

Marriage and children

The Infanta married team handball player Iñaki Urdangarín in Barcelona on 4 October 1997, on which occasion her father, King Juan Carlos, created her Duchess of Palma de Mallorca for life.[1] By Spanish custom her husband became "Duke of Palma de Mallorca", jure uxoris. However, as of 11 June 2015, when King Felipe VI revoked Infanta Cristina's ducal title,[2] Urdangarín lost the courtesy title.

The couple have four children, all born in Barcelona:

They lived in Washington, D.C. from 2009 to 2012, where her husband worked for Telefónica. In August 2013 she moved with her four children to Geneva, Switzerland, to take a job with the Caixa Foundation, while her husband, who is the subject of an embezzlement investigation, remained in Barcelona.[3]

Corruption inquiry

Her husband was investigated from early 2012 on suspicion of fraudulently obtaining millions in public funds in the Nóos case. In April 2013, Infanta Cristina was formally named as a suspect in the case by the judge in charge.[4] When invited to comment, a Royal Household spokesman said that the Casa Real "does not comment on judicial decisions", yet the next day, after the anti-corruption prosecutor announced that he would appeal the decision, it relented by expressing "absolute conformity" with the legal authorities.[5] In light of the forthcoming trial, she and her children moved to Geneva, Switzerland, in summer 2013. On 7 January 2014, a Spanish judge charged her with tax fraud and money laundering and ordered her to appear in court.[6] The Infanta made her first appearance in the Majorca Court on 8 February 2014, where she denied any knowledge of her husband's dealings.[7]

Spanish judge Jose Castro formalised charges against Infanta Cristina on 25 June 2014 resulting in the possibility that she could face trial, with up to 11 years in jail if found guilty. An appeal was lodged against the decision.[8] In November 2014, the High Court of Palma de Mallorca upheld tax fraud charges against the princess, paving the way for her to face trial; however, it decided to drop money-laundering charges. Her lawyers maintain that they remain completely convinced of her innocence.[9] On December 22, 2014, the High Court of the Balearic Islands announced that Infanta Cristina, her husband and 15 others would stand trial on tax fraud charges "as soon as next year".[10]

On 12 June 2015, King Felipe VI officially deprived his sister of her dukedom, privately announcing his intention beforehand.[11][12] Pursuant to their meeting in person on 12 June Infanta Cristina wrote to the king (her brother) requesting the forfeiture of her noble title, immediately following which a royal decree to that effect was issued.[13][14][15][16] According to El País, between 1995 and 2013 the Spanish monarchy's approval rating dropped from 7.5 to 3.68 on a scale of 10 amongst Spaniards. The Spanish media also attributed, in no small part, King Juan Carlos' abdication to these ongoing proceedings.[17] Her right of succession to the throne and to the royal title of infanta were unaffected.

Cristina's trial began on 11 January 2016, presided over by three judges in Palma, with a maximum potential sentence of eight years if found guilty.[18] At this date, her lawyers had asked judges to drop the criminal charges against her, and the state prosecutor said there was insufficient evidence to back up the accusations, but on January 29 the Court in Palma de Mallorca, where the trial is being held, said in a statement it was upholding the charges, which were filed by the 'Clean Hands' anti-graft organisation using a Spanish legal instrument known as the 'people's accusation'. [19]

Sports and participation in the Olympics

She practices a number of sports including skiing, but her favorite is sailing. She has taken part in many national and international events and was a member of the Spanish Olympic sailing team at the Seoul Games in 1988 where she was standard bearer in the opening parade.

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles

As a child of a Spanish monarch, Doña Cristina is legally entitled to the designation and rank of infanta with the style of Royal Highness.

The Infanta's style and title in full: Su Alteza Real Doña Cristina Federica Victoria Antonia de la Santísima Trinidad de Borbón y Grecia, Infanta de España (Her Royal Highness Doña Cristina Federica Victoria Antonia de la Santísima Trinidad de Borbón y Grecia, Infanta of Spain).

Honours

See also List of honours of the Spanish Royal Family by country

National honours

Foreign honours

Arms

Arms of Infanta Cristina of Spain
Notes
Infanta Cristina's personal coat of arms are the Arms of the Monarch in right of Spain, differenced by a Label.
Crest
A Coronet for Infantes of Spain
Escutcheon
Quarterly 1st Gules a Castle Or triple-embattled and voided gate and windows with three Towers each triple-turreted of the Field masoned Sable and ajoure Azure, 2nd Argent a Lion rampant Purpure crowned langued and armed Or, 3rd Or four Pallets Gules, and 4th Gules a Cross saltire and Orle of chains linked together Or a centre point Vert
Argent enté en pointe with a Pomegranate Proper seeded Gules supported sculpted and leafed in two Leaves Vert;
on an inescutcheon Azure bordure Gules three Fleurs-de-lys Or.
Orders
Order of Charles III Grand Cross ribbon.
Other elements
The whole differenced by a Label of three points Azure the central point charged with a Cross Argent
Banner
Infanta Cristina's personal Royal Standard is that of the Spanish Monarch:
a crimson square flag with a swallow-tail charged with her personalized coat of arms.[49]
Symbolism
As with the Royal Arms of Spain: the first quarter is the Arms of Castile, the second of León, the third of Aragon and the fourth of Navarre, enté en pointe the Arms of Granada and on an escutcheon of pretence for Bourbon-Anjou.

The Cross Argent, as used prior to the rescission of her dukedom, represented her mother's family: the former Kings of Greece.[50][51]

Previous versions
From 1997 to 2015

Ancestry

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Real Decreto 1502/1997 Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE)
  2. ↑ Alberola, Miquel (12 June 2015). "El Rey revoca el título de duquesa de Palma a su hermana Cristina". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ "Judge targets Princess Cristina in Nóos corruption probe". El Pais. Retrieved 2013-04-03.
  5. ↑ "La Casa del Rey expresa su "sorpresa" ante el cambio de criterio del juez" (in Spanish). El Periodico de Catalunya. Retrieved 2013-04-03.
  6. ↑ "Spanish princess Infanta Cristina summoned over fraud". BBC News. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  7. ↑ "Spain's Princess Cristina in court over corruption case". BBC News. 8 February 2014.
  8. ↑ "Spain's Princess Cristina to face charges". BBC News. 25 June 2014. Retrieved June 2014.
  9. ↑ "Tax trial confirmed for Spain's Princess Cristina". BBC News. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  10. ↑ Reuters (22 December 2014). "Spain's Princess Cristina to Stand Trial on Tax Fraud Charges". New York Times (The New York Times). Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  11. ↑ Spanish king strips sister news.yahoo.com, retrieved June 12, 2015
  12. ↑ Real Decreto 470/2015 Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE)
  13. ↑ http://img02.lavanguardia.com/2015/06/12/Primera-pagina-de-la-carta-rem_54432241161_54374916805_576_694.jpg?t=1434100353341
  14. ↑ http://img02.lavanguardia.com/2015/06/12/Segunda-pagina-de-la-carta-rem_54432241924_54374916805_576_694.jpg?t=1434101059380
  15. ↑ http://img02.lavanguardia.com/2015/06/12/Tercera-pagina-de-la-carta-rem_54432784369_54374916805_576_694.jpg?t=1434101040777
  16. ↑ http://img02.lavanguardia.com/2015/06/12/Cuarta-y-ultima-pagina-de-la-c_54432241962_54374916805_576_694.jpg?t=1434101077752
  17. ↑ Garea, Fernando (2 June 2014). "La monarquía, en el peor momento de popularidad". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  18. ↑ "Spain's Princess Cristina on trial in fraud case". BBC News. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  19. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-3422541/Spains-Princess-Cristina-loses-appeal-trial.html
  20. ↑ (Spanish) The King revokes the title of Duchess of Palma used by his sister doña Cristina, Europapress (15-06-11) (accessed on 12 June 2015)
  21. ↑ Real Decreto 1978/1983 Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE)
  22. ↑ Real Decreto 1191/1988 Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE)
  23. ↑ Parliamentary question, page=1124
  24. ↑ "El Rey recibe al presidente de Austria". El País (in Spanish). 3 June 1997. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  25. ↑ Foro Dinastías, State visit of Belgium in Spain, 1994,
  26. ↑ Hemeroteca ABC
  27. ↑ Visita de Estado del Presidente del Ecuador a España
  28. ↑ Foro Dinastías, State visit of Egypt in Spain
  29. ↑ Visita de Estado del Presidente de Egipto a España
  30. ↑ Foro Dinastías
  31. ↑ Visita de Estado del Presidente de El Salvador a España
  32. ↑ Foro Dinastías, State visit of Stephanopoulos in Spain, 2001, Group Photo
  33. ↑ Visita de Estado del Presidente de Grecia a España
  34. ↑ "At the Spanish Court" blog, State dinner in the Royal Palace (1st State dinner for Cristina).
  35. ↑ "La dimensión europea de la política exterior española hacia América latina". Escrito por José Escribano Úbeda-Portugués
  36. ↑ Icelandese Presidency Website , Cristina, de Borbón ; prinsessa ; Spánn ; 1985-09-16 ; Stórkross (= Cristina of Bourbon, Princess, Spain, 16 September 1985, Grand Cross)
  37. ↑ Hemeroteca ABC
  38. ↑ State visit of Jordan in Spain (1985), Photo of Infanta Cristina wearing the order
  39. ↑ Visita Oficial del Rey Hussein de Jordania a España
  40. ↑ El Presidente de México de Visita Oficial en España
  41. ↑ El Besamanos
  42. ↑ Foro Dinastías State visit of Nepal in Spain, 1983
  43. ↑ Hemeroteca ABC
  44. ↑ Visita de Estado de los Reyes de Noruega a España
  45. ↑ Visita de Estado del Presidente de Perú a España
  46. ↑ http://royauxsuedois.r.o.pic.centerblog.net/o/8BJLfM9U758.jpg
  47. ↑ Foro Dinastías, State visit in Thailand,
  48. ↑ Visita de Estado de los Reyes de España a Tailandia
  49. ↑ (Spanish) Royal Cadency of Spain-Standards. Blog de Heráldica – 1 November 2010. (Retrieved 10 October 2012)
  50. 1 2 "Cadency of the Spanish Royal House" (in Spanish). José Juan Carrión Rangel, Blog de heráldica. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
  51. 1 2 Proyecto Galicia : Serie de Heráldica Genealogía y Nobiliaria. T. V (LVIII). La Coruña: Hércules de Ediciones, 2011. ISBN 978-84-92715-31-2. P. 529.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Infanta Cristina of Spain.
Infanta Cristina of Spain
Born: 13 June 1965
Lines of succession
Preceded by
Victoria Federica de Marichalar		 Line of succession to the Spanish Throne
6th position 		Succeeded by
Juan Valentín Urdangarín
Olympic Games
Preceded by
Alejandro Abascal		 Flagbearer for  Spain
Seoul 1988 		Succeeded by
Felipe, Prince of Asturias
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