Spain's ex-king attends regatta on brief visit home / Photo: BRAIS LORENZO - AFP
-
Infantino struggling to survive, says former IOC marketing chief
-
Helicopters collide in Greece as fires spread
-
OPEC+ boosts September production by 188,000 barrels/day
-
Power returns to Cuba's west after grid failure
-
Rescuers recover climber Nirmal Purja's body after avalanche disaster
-
At least 72 died in Spain's Ceuta migrant rush
-
Fire toll mounts in Greece as blazes spread
-
South Korea records its highest-ever temperature of 42.5C
-
Sri Lanka deploys troops after prison riot
-
Trump says US, Israel to hold off on Iran strikes
-
Baltics transform from Soviet stagnation to startup hubs
-
Messi returns as Inter Miami draw 2-2 against Columbus Crew
-
AI keeps consumer prices high in 'RAMaggedon' chip crunch
-
Five of Cuba's 15 provinces without power as grid fails again
-
Dressel, Walsh win 50m free titles at US Swimming Championships
-
Baltic startups take aim at deterring Russia on NATO's eastern flank
-
OPEC+ tipped to raise production again but new quotas loom
-
Tourists chase high-octane thrill in China's trending biker capital
-
De Zerbi unsure over Richarlison's future at Spurs
-
Vincent Pastore, who played 'Big Pussy' on 'The Sopranos,' dead at 80
-
Tottenham manager De Zerbi 'happy' with pre-season progress
-
Lula, Brazil's political titan, races against time
-
Brazil's Lula launches fourth term bid as Trump looms over campaign
-
When rogue AI launches a cyberattack, who is legally responsible?
-
Alonso welcomes Mudryk's Chelsea return after doping ban
-
Venezuela transition talks to start in person next week: govt
-
'Damn hot': Last summer for Japan cosplay extravaganza
-
Colombia truck bomb wounds 14 ahead of presidential inauguration
-
Auger-Aliassime playing for hometown pride at Montreal Masters
-
Eala stuns Osaka to book Washington final against Pegula
-
Commonwealth Games poster boy Kerr delivers mile gold in Glasgow
-
13 dead after small tourist plane crashes in Peru
-
Pegula defeats Shnaider to reach Washington Open final
-
France's devastating fires now 'under control', says PM
-
Gaza officials say Israeli strikes kill seven day after deal
-
Noh leads by three at women's British Open as Ryu falters
-
Hundreds of minors sleep rough in Ceuta migrant crisis
-
CONCACAF calls for 'comprehensive reckoning with' Infantino's FIFA leadership
-
Ex-British champion jockey Crowley takes 'hardest decision' to retire
-
Wiebes claims Tour de France Femmes yellow jersey with opening stage win
-
Brentford sign Mali midfielder Sangare in club record deal
-
US embassies urge citizens to consider departing Middle East
-
Chelsea sign Brighton striker Welbeck
-
Moroccans ejected from Spain's Ceuta lament 'broken dreams'
-
Mountaineer Nirmal Purja, team killed in Pakistan avalanche
-
Gaza's civil defence, medical sources say Israeli strikes kill two
Spain's ex-king attends regatta on brief visit home
Spain's former king attended a regatta in the northwestern Galicia region Friday on a controversial first trip home after nearly two years in exile following a string of financial scandals.
Although prosecutors have closed their probes into Juan Carlos I's affairs, revelations about the murky origins of his fortune have done irreparable damage to a figure once revered for his role in Spain's democratic transition after decades of dictatorship.
Pulling up to the sailing club in the resort town of Sanxenxo, the 84-year-old -- who flew in from Abu Dhabi on Thursday evening -- was greeted by dozens of well-wishers, and a crowd of journalists.
As he got out of the car wearing a white top, cream gilet and salmon slacks and began shaking hands with supporters, there were cries of "Long live the king!"
But there were also a few cries of dissent with one man shouting "scoundrel" -- a possible reference to the financial scandals that prompted Juan Carlos to move to Abu Dhabi in self-imposed exile in August 2020.
Hobbling along with his cane and holding onto the arm of an aide, the ex-monarch beamed as he greeted the crew of his yacht, the "Bribon" -- Spanish for "rascal".
The six-metre (20-foot) racing yacht is the same vessel with which he and his crew won the world sailing title in 2017 and 2019.
It was unclear whether he would be joining them aboard for the race. He has not sailed for some three years, Spain's RTVE public television said.
The former monarch will stay with a close friend in Sanxenxo until Monday when he travels to Madrid for a brief visit with his wife Sofia, his son King Felipe VI and other family members.
He will leave for Abu Dhabi later on Monday, the palace said.
News of the disgraced former king's impending arrival sparked a backlash earlier this week.
"There is no longer any legal or judicial reason to stop the king emeritus from travelling to Spain but there are a wealth of ethical grounds that explain the commotion this has caused," an El Pais editorial said on Thursday.
"Anyone returning to Spain with a record like king Juan Carlos I would be arrested and prosecuted as soon as they crossed the border" it tweeted.
N.Mitchell--AT
