The Spanish royal family has found a way to allow former King Juan Carlos, who has been in exile in the Middle East for five and a half years, to return to his homeland, saying it was a "personal decision", DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
Eighty-eight-year-old Juan Carlos, who lives in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, can return to Spain permanently at any time, the royal palace in Madrid said.
However, the statement, which was distributed by state television RTVE and other selected media, emphasized that the father of the king Felipe VI will first have to return to Spain's tax jurisdiction. This is the only way to avoid "speculation and possible criticism" and thus preserve the reputation of both the former king and the Spanish monarchy, RTVE commented. The former king's return is a matter of "personal decision".
Juan Carlos abdicated and went into exile in Abu Dhabi in August 2020 after several scandals surrounding his personal life and revelations of financial irregularities. According to media reports, Juan Carlos took this decision under pressure from the left-wing government and the royal family. Since then, the former king has not appeared at official state events.
His absence from the oath-taking ceremony of Queen Leonor to the Constitution in October 2023, as well as from the events marking the 50th anniversary of his accession to the throne in November 2025, was striking. However, he periodically appears at private family gatherings in Abu Dhabi and Spain.
Today's statement by the royal family is seen as a response to calls from the conservative opposition for the permanent return of the former monarch to his homeland, DPA notes.