The meeting took place at the El Pardo Palace on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Restoration of the monarchy in Spainwhich took place on November 22nd, left a wealth of comments and anecdotes. Media anticipation initially focused on King Juan Carlos I and his meeting with the rest of the royal family. But among the multitude of rumors and conversations that accompanied the family reunion, there were a few words that, despite their urgency, went almost unnoticed: those who Felipe Juan Froilán de Marichalar He repeated it to those who met him and wanted to listen to him.
One of those present at the celebration, who had a relaxed conversation with the son of Infanta Elena, said Vanitatis who was surprised by the candor with which he expressed himself when asked about his life in the Arab Emirates. According to this assistant, Froilán repeated his message as many times as necessary without hiding his discomfort: “I’m tired of living in Abu Dhabi”.
The party brought together virtually the entire family of the former king: Kings Felipe and Letizia, Queen Sofia, the infantesses Elena and Cristina, as well as cousins, nephews, brothers-in-law and representatives of the Spanish royal family. An unusual image that was interpreted as a sign of unity on a symbolic anniversary. Froilán, who is used to attending such events when the guest list extends to the widest sector, moved naturally among those present and took the opportunity to comment on how his life is going in the United Arab Emirates, the country where he lives. from the beginning of 2023.
To his first statement, when the pace of the conversation permitted, he added a second sentence that left no room for doubt: “I live there with no possibility of escape”. For those who heard him, both expressions led to a clear diagnosis about his state of mind and his difficult adaptation to the Emirati capital, a modern and luxurious city that, in his words, does not quite fit his character.
In the conversation, the nephew of King Felipe VI described. his everyday life as shaped by a job “very boring and bureaucratic”accompanied by rigid schedules and the constant feeling that time passes slowly and there are hardly any entertainment options, according to the medium mentioned above. In addition to the monotony of work, he explained that one of the aspects that bothered him the most was the limitation of social life in the city, as he was used to the pace of Madrid.
For Froilán, maintaining a sports routine is part of his daily efforts, although this is difficult for him due to the lack of leisure opportunities that match his interests. In contrast to the public image that has portrayed him for years as a restless and nocturnal young man, he himself defined his current life in Abu Dhabi as “Soda”a term that surprised those who spoke to him.
Despite his discomfort, Froilán admitted that there is a reason why he maintains his residency in the Emirates: his grandfather’s company. Being close to King Juan Carlos, he said, “gives him a good vibe” and he claimed to have made accompanying him a kind of personal mission. It wasn’t just about affection, but also about a responsibility that was taken on by reducing the social circle of the monarch emeritus.
Of course, Queen Sofía’s eldest grandson responded bluntly to the media’s insistence on portraying him as an advisor to King Juan Carlos. Froilán would have laughed openly at this idea, insisting that it had nothing to do with reality: his grandfather treated him like what he is, a grandson, and that is why he “does not listen to advice” that he does not intend to give. For Froilán, their relationship is purely familiar and everydaywithout the strategic burden sometimes attributed to it.
Nevertheless, his desire to leave the United Arab Emirates was clear. “For me, I would go.”he explained. However, he explained that this is not possible at the moment: work commitments and the perception that Juan Carlos I is counting on him, even on an emotional level, keep him in the country.
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