Spain’s Ex-King Finally Breaks Silence On Childhood Death Of His Brother As They Cleaned A Gun

Juan Carlos also addressed rumors of an affair with Princess Diana and revealed his respect for fascist dictator Francisco Franco in his new memoir.

PARIS/MADRID, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Spain’s disgraced former king, Juan Carlos, feels abandoned and misunderstood, including by his son and heir, King Felipe VI, and by other close family members, according to his memoir that went on sale in France on Wednesday.

In “Reconciliation”, Juan Carlos, 87, said he understood why Felipe needed to be “firm as king” in public, keeping his father at a distance, but said it was painful that “as a son he should be insensitive.”

Juan Carlos, who played a key role in Spain’s transition to democracy after the death of dictator Francisco Franco, said he bitterly regretted an affair with Danish-German socialite Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, saying it had harmed his reputation among his compatriots and led to his downfall and self-imposed exile in Abu Dhabi.

“I gave freedom to the Spanish people by establishing democracy but I was never able to enjoy that freedom for myself,” he wrote. “Now that my son has turned his back on me out of duty, now that those who call themselves my friends have turned their backs on me, I realise that I have never been free.”

Juan Carlos said he wanted to return to Spain, enjoy a quiet retirement and a harmonious relationship with Felipe, and be buried with state honors.