Former Spanish King Juan Carlos spoke Friday of a return to public life after avoiding a trial against his ex-lover, who sued him for harassment in London.
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Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, who was Juan Carlos’ mistress between 2004 and 2009, sought £126 million (€146 million) for the psychological damage she said she suffered.
In October 2020, she began harassment proceedings in London, where she lived.
But in her written judgment, Justice Rowena Collins Rice concluded that “the Supreme Court of England and Wales has no jurisdiction to hear these proceedings”.
In particular, the judge emphasized that the applicant had “not adequately established” that the facts underlying her application had occurred in England.
This Danish businesswoman in her 50s, also known as Corinna Larsen, claims that she was spied on and harassed for eight years following the split from 2012 on the orders of the former monarch. According to the complaint, she and her children suffered threats.
Juan Carlos is said to have demanded the return of gifts such as works of art, jewelry and money worth 65 million euros.
Their relationship became public in 2012 when the monarch broke a hip while vacationing in Botswana. The affair, revealed against the backdrop of record unemployment in Spain, sparked outrage in his country.
Juan Carlos, who abdicated in 2014 after several scandals, welcomed the verdict, which he said “unsurprisingly confirms his innocence,” although it does not address the merits of the case.
The 85-year-old ex-king explains that he “voluntarily demonstrated the greatest discretion” during the proceedings. But this decision “restores the necessary conditions for new public appearances,” says a press release published by the Publicis agency on behalf of the ex-king.
“Demoralizing”
In a press release, Corinna told Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn she was “deeply disappointed” by the decision and said it was “demoralizing to see that victims of harassment in our system often struggle to obtain justice.”
“I and my children continue to be intimidated and bullied and targeted for my complete breakdown,” she continued. “Juan Carlos used his entire arsenal to destroy me and his power is immense,” she added, saying she was considering “all options.”
In December, the British judiciary granted the former king immunity until his abdication in 2014. But most of the facts cited by the plaintiff occurred after that year.
After assuming the role of head of state in 1975 following the death of dictator Franco, who had named him his successor, Juan Carlos was praised for decades for enabling the return of democracy to Spain.
His popularity plummeted following personal scandals and revelations about his lavish lifestyle in Spain starting in 2012.
Juan Carlos gave thanks in 2014 on behalf of his son Felipe VI. from who distanced himself from him.