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In the book of memories entitled “Reconciliation”, he complains that his friends and his son Felipe VI turned their backs on him and denies his alleged relationship with Princess Diana. The work was released on newsstands in France this Thursday and will be published in Spanish in December.
Benoit Tessier/Reuters
The former king of Spain, Juan Carlos, admits in his memoir “Reconciliation” that he feels abandoned and misunderstood by his family, including his son, King Felipe VI. In the work, he also talks about the episode in which he fatally shot his brother Alfonso and denies the alleged extramarital relationship with Princess Diana.
In the memoir, titled “Reconciliation” (Reconciliation, in Portuguese), Juan Carlos complains that his friends and son turned their backs on him. Away from the spotlight, diz understand that Felipe VI has to be “firm as a king” in public, but confesses that it is difficult for him to be “insensitive” as a son.
In the work of 512 pages fwing about the mother of his three children, Queen Emerita Sofía, who he describes as an “exceptional, upright and kind” woman.
Still in the family field, the emeritus king also addresses,the book written together with the French journalist Laurence Debray, the episode in which he fired a gun and fatally shot his younger brotherAlfonso, just 14 years old.
In the chapter “The Tragedy”, he reveals that the brothers were “playing” with a pistol, in the family home in Portugal, at the time of the accident.
“We had removed the cartridge. We had no idea there was still a bullet in the gun.”he writes, referring to the accident that happened in 1956.
Juan Carlos admits that he remembers the tragic accident “every day” and that he misses his “friend and confidant”.
In “Reconciliation”, he confesses that he wanted live peacefully in retirement in Spain and be buried with state honors
Benoit Tessier/Reuters
At 87 years old, the king who played an important role in the country’s transition to democracy after the death of Francisco Franco, admits that he admired and “greatly respected” the dictator.
And it reveals that the extramarital relations that were attributed to him by the press were mostly false. Includes Princess Diana in the list, who she describes as “cold and distant” and denies any intimate relationship.
“Reconciliation”, which took three years to write, hit newsstands this Thursday in France. It will be published in Spanish in December, on the 50th anniversary of the death of Francisco Franco and the restoration of the monarchy.
