Model for royalty

The Spanish royal family, whose Princess Cristina marries on Saturday, is one of the most popular in Europe, largely because it is closely ...

The Spanish royal family, whose Princess Cristina marries on Saturday, is one of the most popular in Europe, largely because it is closely identified with the country8217;s young democracy. The consensus of support focuses on 59-year-old King Juan Carlos, who played a pivotal role in establishing democracy after the death of General Francisco Franco in November 1975 and later supported it through its most difficult moments.

The Head of State has also contributed to this popularity by portraying the Bourbons of Spain as a simple and modern royal family. Lavish displays are rare 8212; the royal family8217;s budget is one of the smallest among European monarchies.

In 1997, it will have cost the Spanish people 6.6 million, half the 12.75 million which the British parliament allocates to Queen Elizabeth, her husband and her mother alone.

The Spanish royal family8217;s budget is equivalent to that of the Dutch royal family 6.8 million and less than those of monarchies in smaller countries such as Sweden 9.6 million or Denmark 8.5 million.

The Windsors 8212; who are related through a Greek branch of the family to Juan Carlos8217; wife Queen Sofia 8212; decided to give up their 130-metre royal yacht Britannia for economy8217;s sake 8212; a fact which makes the Spanish smile.

They know how often the royal yacht Fortuna 8212; given to Juan Carlos by King Fahd of Saudi Arabia 8212; has to be repaired. And they recall how it had to be towed back from the Mediterranean with Prince Charles aboard in 1988 due to a technical problem.

Popularity polls are unnecessary for the Bourbon family. The latest, in September 1996, showed that 83.6 percent of the population judged King Juan Carlos8217; actions to be 8220;good8221; or 8220;very good8221; while only three per cent said they were 8220;bad8221; or 8220;very bad8221;.

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Princess Cristina, third in line to the throne has also been a model of simplicity. She was the first member of the royal family to obtain a university degree, to take a paid job and to leave the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid before getting married. She moved into an apartment in Barcelona, where on Saturday she is getting married to Inaki Urdangarin, a commoner, who plays professional hand-ball and whose sole titles are from the world of sports.

However, the respect which Spaniards feel for the king is due to his political actions more than anything else. Although Juan Carlos was allowed by Franco to assume the thrown, the king has skillfully managed the democratic process.

In the early days he appointed Adolfo Suarez, the chief architect of the democratisation of Spanish society, as head of Government. Again, in February 1981, when Lieutenant-Colonel Antonio Tejero of the civil guard tried to overthrow the Government, Juan Carlos moved quickly to end the coup attempt.