Annus Horribilis - Juan Carlos I of Spain

Juan Carlos I of Spain

In 2007 Spain's royal family, and in particular Juan Carlos I, faced a difficult year. Family tragedy and a series of controversies led to Spanish newspapers to refer to the year as the King's annus horribilis.

• In February, Érika Ortiz Rocasolano, the youngest sister of The Princess of Asturias, died of a drug overdose in her apartment.
• In July, a humour magazine, El Jueves, published a drawing that ran on the cover a depiction of The Prince of Asturias and The Princess of Asturias having sex, with a caption reading, "Just imagine if you end up pregnant. This will be the closest thing to work I’ve ever done in my life.", satirizing a proposal by the government of giving 2,500 euros to the parents of newborn children. The magazine was banned and put away from distribution, which led to a controversy.
• In September, Catalan separatists were tried for burning photographs of The King and The Queen at an anti-monarchy and Catalan separatist rally in Girona while the royal couple toured the city.
• In early November at the XVII Ibero-American Summit, after an altercation between the President of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez and Spain's Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the King asked Chávez, "¿Por qué no te callas?" ("Why don't you shut up?").
• Shortly after the summit, the royal house announced the separation of the King's daughter, the The Duchess of Lugo and her husband, Jaime de Marichalar. The couple have two children, Felipe and Victoria.