King Felipe of Spain’s sister, Infanta Cristina de Borbón, has confirmed her separation from
husband Iñaki Urdangarin after nearly 25
years of marriage.
In a statement, the couple said: “By mutual consent, we have
decided to end our marriage. Our commitment to our children remains
intact. Since it is a private decision, we ask for the utmost respect from all
those around us. Cristina de Borbón and Iñaki Urdangarin.”
The news comes days after Iñaki, 54, was pictured holding hands with another
woman. The photographs published by Spanish publication Lecturas showed
the former handball player walking along a beach with his co-worker at Imaz &
Asociados law firm – Ainhoa Armentia.
Iñaki was captured by the media arriving at his office in Vitoria on
Thursday, where he was asked about the photographs published by the Spanish
magazine. He said: “Things happen and we are going to manage it in
the best possible way.”
When asked about how his family is, he added: “We will manage [the
situation] with the utmost calm and together, as always.”
Sources told HOLA! on Wednesday that the photographs of
Infanta Cristina’s husband had not caught her by surprise and that “she
already knew”.
 |
Iñaki and Infanta Cristina pictured in 2019
Meanwhile, the couple’s second son, Pablo Urdangarin, 21, told the
press: “We are all going to love each other the same.”
Iñaki and Infanta Cristina, 56, were last pictured publicly together
last month in photos published by HOLA! as they enjoyed a family
holiday in Baqueira Beret.
The couple, who married in 1997, share four children, Juan, Pablo,
Miguel and daughter Irene. Infanta Cristina is the youngest child of former
King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia and remains sixth in line to the throne
behind her older sister, Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo, and her two children.
