Spain’s exiled former monarch, Juan Carlos I, has released a memoir revealing for the first time how Francisco Franco summoned him to be his heir, a decision that reshaped Spanish history. The 87-year-old king also recounts the tragic death of his younger brother Alfonso in 1956, a firearms accident that has haunted him for decades. The book, published in France to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Franco’s death and the restoration of the monarchy, seeks to clarify misunderstandings about his reign and personal life.
Juan Carlos describes the moment Franco informed him that he would succeed him over the head of his father, Don Juan, recalling the intense pressure and moral conflict he felt at the time. He also discusses the lasting grief caused by the death of Alfonso, who was accidentally shot while the two brothers played with a pistol. The memoir portrays the emotional weight of this incident, which Juan Carlos says left an “immense emptiness” in his life.
The former king addresses the controversies that followed him into exile, including the withdrawal of his inheritance and state allowance by his son, King Felipe VI, amid allegations of financial impropriety in 2020. He recounts the pressures that led him to leave Spain for Abu Dhabi, defending himself against accusations related to offshore funds and the €65 million gift from the late King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, which he admits was “a grave mistake.” Despite these controversies, Juan Carlos insists he has paid his taxes and that investigations in Switzerland and Spain have been closed.
The memoir also touches on his personal relationships, including his marriage to Queen Sofía, whom he praises as “exceptional” and “irreproachable,” and the extramarital affair with Corinna Larsen, which he calls a weakness and a mistake. He reflects on his abdication in 2014, explaining that he wanted to ensure his son was well-prepared to rule and to safeguard the monarchy’s continuity in Spain.
Juan Carlos recounts pivotal moments of his reign, including the attempted coup of February 23, 1981, describing it as a defining episode that tested Spain’s young democracy. He expresses a desire to be better understood through his memoir, emphasizing his commitment to the Crown and to Spain, and asserting that his priority is the enduring spirit of the monarchy beyond his personal controversies.
