Although the presence of King Juan Carlos in Spain creates tension and strong polarization between supporters and detractors, which in no way benefits the reign of Philip VI, there should be no problem with Juan Carlos de Borbón moving freely around the world. Thus, as long as his health permits, he will travel by necessity or by invitation. This last case will take him to Paris on February 9, 2023. King Juan Carlos was personally invited by Mario Vargas Llosa, who wanted Juan Carlos I to attend the reception ceremony for the writer at the French Academy.

King Juan Carlos waves to the Náutico de Sanxenxo on his return to Spain.

According to El Pais, at the invitation of the Nobel Prize winner, King Juan Carlos informed Vargas Llosa of his intention to be present in the French capital to witness the ceremony. This is a great honor for Mario Vargas Llosa, who is in 18th place and is the first member of the Académie française who did not write in French.

King Juan Carlos and Mario Vargas Llosa are good friends. In fact, the Spanish-Peruvian writer was one of the last people to receive a title of nobility from the former King of Spain, who made it relatively common to award ducats, marquesses, and shires to people who received dignity for one or more merit. As for the writer, he received the title of Marquis de Vargas Llosa by order of King Juan Carlos, conferred in 2011, a few months after Mario Vargas Llosa received the 2010 Nobel Prize in Literature.

King Juan Carlos leaves Athens for Abu Dhabi after the funeral of Constantine the Greek.

Since his departure to Abu Dhabi in August 2020, scandals have caused King Juan Carlos to barely leave the emirate. His first return to Spain came in May 2022 on a controversial trip to Sanxenxo that he didn’t like in La Zarzuela. Before returning to Abu Dhabi, Juan Carlos de Borbón spent several hours at La Zarzuela. where he met Felipe VI for a long time to have a not always pleasant conversation and enjoy a family dinner.

In September 2022, he returned to Europe for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, attended more as a distant relative than as an honorary king. It was another funeral that made him return to the old continent. On January 10, 2023, Constantine the Greek, his brother-in-law, died, so he did not hesitate to move to Athens to say goodbye to the last king of the Hellenes.

Kings Felipe, Letizia and Queen Sofia arm in arm with King Juan Carlos behind at the funeral of Constantine the Greek in Tatoi.

There he participated in all the events organized by the Greek royal family and made his first public appearance with his three children, his daughter-in-law and six grandchildren. During the funeral of King Constantine in Greece at Tatoi, Felipe VI greeted King Juan Carlos with great love, showing that despite the tensions, scandals and damage done to the crown, father-son love remains intact.