Mysterious selfies, 'affair' claims and a bizarre 'dig' in a Corrs pop song: How the Spanish royals can't shake off scandal (despite King Felipe's best efforts) with rumours about Queen Letizia's tryst with her former brother-in-law refusing to die down

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The King of Spain and his wife Letizia have for the past decade embodied the ultimate image of sleek, modern European royals - but in a case of extremely unfortunate timing, whispers of multiple indiscretions by the Queen have threatened to overshadow the tenth year of King Felipe's reign. 

When King Felipe, now 56, assumed the throne in 2014, he committed to a 'renewed monarchy' after his father King Juan Carlos abdicated in disgrace amid a scandal over a lavish hunting trip which infuriated Spaniards at a time of economic hardship., not to mention multiple affairs. 

And until recently it looked like Felipe's efforts had been hugely successful, with much credit going to former journalist Letizia, 51, who has become revered for her style, easy charm and commitment to duty during their 20-year marriage. 

Their daughters Leonor, Princess of Asturias, 18, and Infanta Sofía, 17, are growing into accomplished young women, who are much admired in Spain thanks to their poise and maturity in public.  

How unfortunate, then, that bombshell claims by Queen Letizia's former brother-in-law that they had a romantic relationship after her marriage to the King have come along just as it appeared all the scandals of the past were long behind the Royal Family. 

King Felipe has put on a united front with his wife Queen Letizia in the wake of several scandals that have surfaced before and since he assumed the throne (pictured in February 2020)

A new hope? King Felipe VI with his daughter, Princess Leonor - who has been favoured as the monarchy's future

King Felipe has reduced the members of the Royal Family to only include himself and Letizia, their two daughters, and his parents - in a move reminiscent of King Charles III's own slimmed-down monarchy. In recent months, he has continued with his commitment to reform by reshaping the royal household with new hires.

Yet despite being beloved by the public, with a poll this year showing nearly 60 per cent of people in Spain supporting the monarchy despite an ever-growing republican movement; and despite King Felipe's best efforts to project an image of calm stoicism, Letizia's former brother-in-law refuses to back down on his claims.

Accusations of infidelity are an unwelcome reminder of the past, particularly because Spanish media have claimed that the King and Queen are married in name only and live separate lives - echoing the marriage of Juan Carlos and his wife Queen Sofia. 

Here, FEMAIL looks back on the scandals that have beset the Spanish royals beneath their veneer of perfection... 

SHOCKING 'AFFAIR' CLAIMS 

Jaime Del Burgo (pictured with the sister of Letizia), 53, who is based in the UK, has shockingly alleged that he and the Spanish King's wife had an affair after the former journalist's 2004 nuptials to Felipe VI. He has more than once doubled down on the bombshell claims on social media

At the end of last year, Jaime del Burgo, Queen Letizia's ex-brother-in-law, rocked the Spanish monarchy when he made explosive claims of an affair with the royal mother-of-two, which he claims continued even after she married Felipe. 

The businessman dated Queen Letizia in the late 1990s when she was still working as a newsreader, before going on to marry her sister, Telma, from 2012 until 2014. 

However, in a bombshell book released in November 2023, called Letizia y Yo and written by 91-year-old journalist Jaime Penafiel, Del Burgo alleged he and the Spanish Queen carried on their romantic affair even as she was about to walk down the aisle to marry King Felipe. 

Since the explosive book was published, Jaime Penafiel has been sacked from his newspaper El Mundo. 

In the book, the businessman told the author that he met Letizia before 2000 and their relationship began on a romantic trip to Venice, years before she met King Felipe.

Jaime del Burgo shared an unseen selfie of Queen Letizia wearing a pashmina he claims belonged to him as 'evidence' of the alleged affair

Jaime - who is the son of the former politician Jaime Ignacio del Burgo - claims he was planning to propose to Letizia when she announced that she was dating a mysterious 'diplomat' over dinner at the Ritz hotel in Madrid in 2002.

Describing how 'serious and significant' their relationship was, Panafiel made the unlikely claim that Jaime was 'carrying an engagement ring his his pocket' that evening.

Letizia reportedly told him that she had 'met someone who would oblige her to quit her profession', which Jaime said led him to deduce her mystery partner was Felipe.

After the pair reportedly decided to just be friends, Jaime is said to have advised Letizia: 'Don't announce the romance, just the wedding.'

Spanish Crown Prince Felipe de Bourbon and his bride Letizia look at each other as the royal couple appears on the balcony of Royal Palace May 22, 2004

Pictured: Letizia and Felipe leave Ruber International Clinic in Madrid, Spain with their newborn baby girl Leonor in 2005

Following their engagement announcement in 2003, Letizia - who had divorced her first husband in 1999 - asked Jaime to be a witness at their wedding.

Jaime also made the incredible claim that the Queen asked to see him the night before the wedding at the exclusive El Latigazo restaurant in Madrid - where she asked him to 'never leave' her.

He sensationally claimed: 'When we met, she took hold of my hand and asked me why I had never asked her to marry me. Obviously I didn't reply. I encouraged her as best I could. The last thing she said to me before we said goodbye to each other in that restaurant was a request: 'Never leave me.''

Following the wedding, Jaime described how Letizia was like a 'fox in a chicken coop' as she was 'cleverer than any of them'.

del Burgo - who says the Queen nicknamed him her 'yogi pal' - claims he still had a romantic relationship with Letizia even after the wedding in 2004. He also claims he has kept 'photographs, videos, mobile phones' and text messages as evidence.

In the book, Jaime sensationally claims that Letizia whispered that she loved him when they were lying in a hammock by a pool at her home following Princess Leonor's birth.

One of the most damaging claims Jaime reportedly makes is that Queen Letizia suggested they have a child together using a surrogate in Los Angeles.

Penafiel goes on to write that when Sofia was born, Jaime del Burgo became uncle to both of the girls.

It then quotes him as saying: 'It was a beautiful period. I didn't have children, and those girls made me so happy. I was working in Brazil and suffered a pulmonary embolism.

'I was in intensive care for a fortnight. I managed to get the Albert Einstein Hospital to give me a telephone Letizia and I spoke to each other every day on [the phone].

'During my visits to Madrid I would often go to the cinema with Felipe, Letizia and some friends. Letizia and I would always sit together, holding hands. They were moments of happiness.'

However in August 2011, Jaime alleges Letizia abruptly ended their relationship when she called him and said: 'We can't continue seeing each other.'

Following this, Jaime alleges that a female friend told him to get in touch with Telma - who he had met when he first started dating Letizia.

The following year, the pair got engaged after just two months of dating. The Queen's sister already had her daughter Amanda from her relationship with ex-partner Enrique Martin Llop.

At this time, Jaime claims he was still close to Letizia and Felipe and he claimed he bonded with his future wife after the four of them went to the cinema in Madrid one day.

After tying the knot in an intimate ceremony, the couple celebrated their marriage with a larger reception in Italy - which was attended by their family. 

Jaime del Burgo is quoted in the book as saying: 'When the guests congratulated us, Letizia’s turn came and kissing me on the cheek, she whispered into my ear, "We’ll be together again."'

In 2012, the pair relocated to New York to start their married life - but Telma returned to Barcelona the same year before announcing their permanent separation in 2014.

Queen Letizia during her time as a newsreader for Television Espanola before her wedding to King Felipe

However, Letizia and Felipe - who celebrated twenty years of marriage this year - stuck by one another and have continuously put on a united display despite the drama. Pictured together last month

Telma Ortiz is seen leaving the EDP Gran Via Theater after attending the 'We Choose Earth Tour' on June 22, 2023 in Madrid

He then goes on to outrageously claim that Letizia 'didn't stop until she managed to make [Jaime's marriage fail' - citing it as the 'only battle he'd lost in his life'.

In December, Jaime posted a selfie of Queen Letizia on X as 'evidence' of their relationship.

In the selfie, the royal can be seen wearing a black pashmina - which Jaime claims belonged to him - and he also typed out a message, supposedly sent to him by the Spanish Queen.

It read: 'Love. I wear your pashmina. It's like feeling you by my side. It takes care of me.

'It protects me. I count the hours until we see each other again. Love you. Get out of here. Yours,'

After sharing the image, other X users questioned the validity of Jaime's claims - given there is no evidence that Letizia sent him the photo or accompanying message. The businessman has since deleted his X account.

A spokesperson for the Spanish Royal Family told FEMAIL: 'We have no comment to make about this.'

Just this week, on the eve of the the Spanish royals celebrating Princess Leonor graduating from her first year of military school, del Burgo relaunched his attack on Letizia, telling an Argentinian publication that he and the Queen are still in contact and reduced King Felipe to her 'lover'.

Speaking to Clarín, he sensationally claimed 'We have shared many years of our lives together. We have been a family.

'As I have always said, ours was not a relationship of lovers. The lover would be him , in any case. I mean Felipe.'

The father-of-one went on to describe his romance with Letizia as a 'committed, long-lasting, exclusive relationship'.

Jaime claimed Letizia wanted to start a family with him and they shared the dream of 'growing old holding hands'.

Elsewhere in the interview, Jaime said he was trying to expose the 'rottenness of the Crown' but was 'asked to flee' by Queen Letizia.

However, the businessman went on to claim that he still in contact with Letizia and last spoke to her on May 12.

JUAN CARLOS'S TARNISHED LEGACY 

He has famously rifted away from his disgraced father, the former King Juan Carlos - who has been living in exile in the United Arab Emirates. Both pictured at a thanksgiving service for the life of King Constantine of the Hellenes in February

Since King Felipe assumed the throne in 2014, he has done his best to clean up the monarchy's image - which had been left in tatters after his father, King Juan Carlos, abdicated in disgrace.

He has famously drifted away from his father - who had been living in exile in the United Arab Emirates, estranged from his wife and family and dealing with a multi-million pound lawsuit from his former mistress.

The ex-monarch, who is now best known for his misdeeds, was once one of the most suave and charismatic figures on the world stage. 

He had been a hero to Spaniards thanks to his rejection of the legacy of dictator Francisco Franco and the ushering in of a new democratic, liberal era after decades of authoritarianism.

At the beginning of his reign, he had been key to Spain's peaceful transition to democracy following the four-decade dictatorship of Francisco Franco. 

Pictured: Juan Carlos riding his motorbike in the grounds of Zarzuela Palace in Madrid in the 1970s

The wedding of Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofia of Greece and Denmark at the Royal Palace in Athens, Greece on 14th May 1962

However, much of his young life (in Italy, where the Spanish royal family were living in exile amid the Spanish civil war) were beset by scandal long before the royal family returned to the throne in the 1970s following General Franco's death.

When Juan Carlos was just 18 years old, he fatally shot his younger brother, 14-year-old Alfonso, in what was eventually deemed an accidental killing. 

The shocking incident is said to have happened when Juan Carlos, home for Easter from his military school, was cleaning a revolver he had been given by Franco. 

The shot hit Alfonso in the forehead and the teenager died instantly. 

Public money worth more than £500,000 today was allegedly paid to Spain's 1971 Miss World candidate, Barbara Rey (pictured), so she would not spill the beans on their romance

After being forced to swear he had not done it on purpose, Juan Carlos was sent back to his austere academy. Don Juan never forgave his son, but he tirelessly tried to restore the Spanish throne on his behalf.

Eventually, following General Franco's death in 1975, the Spanish monarchy was restored and King Juan Carlos decided to ignore ultra-conservative voices in favour of a liberal future, to install parliamentary democracy in the nation. 

After restoring the throne, popularity for the king skyrocketed. 

However, while he had a picture-perfect family in his marriage to Queen Sofia and three children including son Felipe, he was an alluring figure in public and an alleged adulterer in private, rumoured to have engaged in several illicit affairs.

In a podcast series, Corinna revealed she first met the then King in 2004 at a hunting party in Southern Spain. The pair pictured at the Laureus Award 2006 in Barcelona

Spanish author Amadeo Martinez Ingles claimed he slept with 62 women in just one six-month stint, and allegedly bedded more than 2,000 female partners between 1976 and 1994.

One rumoured mistress, the 18-year-old actress Sandra Mozarowsky, died in mysterious circumstances in 1977 after falling from her balcony.

Public money worth more than £500,000 today was also allegedly paid to Spain's 1971 Miss World candidate, Barbara Rey, so she would not spill the beans on their romance.

Another lover, the Spanish photographer Queca Campillo, told how, because they had nowhere to meet for their amorous encounters, she would go to the back entrance of the Zarzuela Palace - the royal residence - and meet 'in a van they had'.

Meanwhile, the king remained married to Queen Sofia, though it has been reported that the two have not shared a bed since the late 1970s.

But it was his five-year relationship with the glamourous German-Danish aristocrat Corinna, coupled with his love of big-game hunting, that would ultimately lead to his downfall.

Princess Letizia, Prince Felipe, King Juan Carlos, pictured watching an air display during Armed Forces Day in Seville, Spain, in May 2006

The pair became increasingly close after they began their affair in 2004, but the businesswoman broke off their relationship after she learned he had been involved in another long-term extramarital affair.

In 2012, she was persuaded to join him on a hunting trip to Botswana to celebrate her son's birthday.

But when the king fell after an evening of drinking, she had to surrender the use of her private plane so the injured monarch could be secretly flown back to Spain.

An official plane was off the cards because the all-expenses trip had been paid for by a Syrian businessman and kept secret from the government.

The subsequent news of the luxury getaway, and the emergence of a photo of Juan Carlos posing with a dead elephant he had killed during an earlier trip, triggered a worldwide media frenzy, with Corinna now firmly in the spotlight.

The Spanish people were furious that their king had embarked on a lavish jaunt costing around £35,000 when the country was going through a terrible recession and youth unemployment stood at 50 per cent.

Juan Carlos abdicated in 2014 and handed over the throne to his son King Felipe. Both pictured together

King Felipe VI of Spain (second left), his wife Queen Letizia (far left), their daughters Princess Sofia (front left) and Princess Leonor (front right), former King Juan Carlos I (second right) and his wife former Queen Sofia (right) in Palma de Mallorca in April 2018

Juan Carlos issued a grovelling public apology for his Botswana trip and gave up his £20million yacht, as well as taking a pay cut.

But that did not stop the collapse of the decades-long agreement with the Spanish media to ignore his salacious private life, and so Juan Carlos's reputation continued to nosedive.

In the months before his abdication, speculation about his future was rife as both of his hips had to be replaced and he needed the help of a cane during appearances.

Further ignominy hit the Spanish royal family in 2013 when Juan Carlos's daughter Cristina was investigated for corruption alongside her husband.After a probe lasting more than three years, Cristina - who became the first Spanish royal to appear in court - was acquitted, although her husband was jailed and she was stripped of her title by her brother.

On June 18, 2014, Juan Carlos formally abdicated. He told his subjects: 'I have decided to end my reign and abdicate the crown of Spain.

'A new generation is quite rightly demanding to take the lead role.'

On the way out, he also took a swipe at the then-Prince Charles, saying: 'We do not want my son to wither waiting like Prince Charles.'

In October 2023, Juan Carlos won a bid to end a £126million High Court battle with his Danish ex-lover (pictured) who accused him of spying on and harassing her 

In August 2020, after six years out of the spotlight, he opted to leave Spain, saying he did not want his personal affairs to undermine his son King Felipe VI's reign.

Earlier that year, his son had stripped him of an annual allowance of nearly €200,000 as details of his financial dealings emerged.

And Spain's Supreme Court had launched an investigation just two months before his departure into his alleged involvement in a high-speed rail contract in Saudi Arabia.

The late Saudi King Abdullah allegedly deposited £77million (85million euros) into a Swiss bank account that Juan Carlos was said to have access to.

However, the case was ultimately dropped.

In October 2023, Juan Carlos won a bid to end a £126million High Court battle with his Danish ex-lover who accused him of spying on and harassing her.

Businesswoman Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, who is in her late 50s, claimed the former royal had caused her 'great mental pain'.

Juan Carlos denied wrongdoing and disputed the claims made against him, arguing they are not 'viable'.

In a judgment at the High Court in London, Justice Rowena Collins Rice said the court 'lacks jurisdiction to try this claim' because it was brought against the defendant outside of his country of domicile.

She added that Ms zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn 'has not sufficiently established that the "harmful event" of which she complains – harassment by the defendant – happened in England'.

In a statement, Juan Carlos said he welcomed the judge's decision. Meanwhile, Ms zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn said she was 'deeply disappointed'.

BIZARRE POP DIGS

Telma Ortiz, the sister of Queen Letizia who was married to the man now claiming he had an affair with the Queen after she married King Felipe, is now in a relationship with Irish lawyer Gavin Bonnar

Queen Letizia's side of the family may not be in the spotlight in the same way as  King Felipe's, but the Ortiz name is not free from gossip and speculation.

Letizia's sister Telma's marriage to Jaime del Burgo was of course thrust into the spotlight when the businessman made the sensational claims about the Queen last year.

However, 50-year-old Telma's love life has not been smooth sailing since she and del Burgo divorced after their split in 2012. 

The divorce itself wasn't simple, after their first attempt at a legal separation was quashed by Telma's father-in-law, Jaime Ignacio del Burgo, who told a court that his son and Telma repented and wanted to give their marriage another go. 

Telma's partner is now Irish lawyer Gavin Bonnar and the couple welcomed their first child together in October 2021, when Telma was aged 47. Gavin shares two children with his first wife musician Sharon Corr.

Gavin's ex-wife is Sharon Corr, singer-songwriter in Irish folk band The Corrs. In The Fool & The Scorpion, a recent album, Corr wrote lyrics referring to 'the queen's twisted sister' which fans believe may be about Telma

In her recent album The Fool & The Scorpion, Sharon wrote lyrics including 'the queen's twisted sister' - which fans speculated were inspired by her children's new step-mother.

Although Sharon and Gavin separated in 2019, the Sunday World reported it wasn't until February this year that they reached a financial settlement.  

Letizia and Telma grew up in a middle-class family and attended a public school. Their mother Maria Rodriguez, was a nurse. Their father Jesús José Ortiz Álvarez, and stepmother Ana Togores, are both journalists.

Telma prefers to stay out of the limelight - but it's thought she still has a close relationship with her family, with the mother-of-two invited to several special family occasions, including the Princess of Asturias Awards in 2019.

A NEW HOPE?

Juan Carlos's mistakes took years to weather for the royals - but Felipe VI's children appear to be his latest hope for the monarchy. Princess Leonor pictured this month 

Juan Carlos's mistakes took years to weather for the royals - but Felipe VI's children appear to be his latest hope for the monarchy. 

Despite being just 18 years old, Princess Leonor of Spain is being clearly pointed out as the key to saving the family's reputation in the wake of enduring scandal.

The royal is following in her father and grandfather's footsteps by completing her military training at Zaragoza Military Academy in Northern Spain - which has just graduated from.

The royal is following in her father and grandfather's footsteps by completing her military training at Zaragoza Military Academy in Northern Spain - which has just graduated from. Pictured: Felipe greeting Leonor after awarding her with the Order of the Golden Fleece in 2018

Since celebrating her milestone birthday, it seems the monarchy has begun to look to the young Princess after years of scandals and affair rumours.

So perhaps it's no surprise that Queen-in-waiting Leonor features prominently in a new photographic exhibition at the Royal Palace in Madrid, which opened on Monday, documenting the first decade of King Felipe and Queen Letizia's reign.

Notably, the most prominent of the large photographs features Leonor, hinting that the future of the monarchy will be secure under her rule. 

Despite being just 18 years old, Princess Leonor of Spain is being clearly pointed out as the key to saving the family. Pictured with her father in June

Princess Leonor, King Felipe, Queen Letizia and Infanta Sofia wave from the balcony of the Plaza de Oriente on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Proclamation of His Majesty the King, at the Royal Palace, in June

A description of the exhibition says it includes 'the most important events' of the decade - and, significantly, many include Leonor. 

In the photographs, Leonor is seen exchanging smiling glances with her father, showing their close bond. 

Ana Romero, biographer of Juan Carlos, told The Times that the exhibition's message is that the anniversary 'marks a turning of the page after having overcome a terribly difficult decade'. 

Meanwhile Ana de la Cueva, head of Patrimonial Nacional, which manages Spain's royal palaces and heritage, told the newspaper: 'The start of the reign was a new period about transparency and communicating with the public and the hard work of the monarchs for the concerns of the people.'

Since celebrating her milestone birthday, it seems the monarchy has begun to look to the young Princess after years of scandals and affair rumours. Pictured last month

Speaking about Leonor, she added: 'Her training has been thought out to guarantee the professionalism of the princess.'

In May she was elected as the 'Adopted Daughter' of Zaragoza, 38 years after the King was honoured with the same role. 

After a year at the academy, it is expected that Leonor will move to a naval academy in Spain, before heading for her final year of training at the General Air Academy. 

This year she has been featured more and more in the country's important events, making her debut appearance at the new year Military Easter ceremony in January alongside her parents. 

She was clearly confident as she stood alongside her mother and father in her full military uniform. 

On her birthday, Spain hailed its future Queen as Princess Leonor asked the Spanish people to 'put their trust in her' as she swore loyalty to the constitution. 

This means that she can now officially act as regent in the absence of her father. 

Confident Leonor even gave her first public speech aged just 13 to mark the 40th anniversary of the Spanish constitution, already showing strong promise as the future leader of the country. 

When she ascends the throne, Leonor will be Spain's first queen regent in for 150 years, but even more significantly she is viewed as a figure who will complete her father's work of distancing himself from the scandal that engulfed her grandfather.