Spain’s Princess Cristina stripped of duchess title ahead of fraud trial

King Felipe VI moves to distance royal family from his sister

Spain’s King Felipe VI has stripped his sister Princess Cristina of her title as duchess of Palma de Mallorca in the latest move to distance the royal family from the princess as she awaits trial for tax fraud.

Cristina (49) has been indicted as part of a four-year probe into her husband, Inaki Urdangarin, who faces charges including money-laundering and fraud. Mr Urdangarin automatically loses his title as duke at the same time.

The couple’s trial is expected late this year. Cristina’s lawyer, Miquel Roca, said the princess had sent a letter to the king asking for the title to be removed but the palace said the king had made the decision before the letter arrived.

The princess was given the title when she married Mr Urdangarin in 1997.

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Cristina is sixth in line of succession to the throne and calls have increased for her to renounce her princess title and rights to the throne so as to protect the image of the monarchy ahead of the trial. The couple has been sidelined from royal acts since 2011.

She is the first Spanish royal family member ordered to stand trial since the monarchy was restored in 1975.

– (Reuters)