Spain’s King Felipe strips sister of title

Spain’s King FelipeVI 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. 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 and told his sister of the decision by phone.

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

Cristina is sixth in line 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.

If convicted she could face up to four years in prison. Urdangarin, a former Olympic handball medallist turned businessman, could face up to 19 years in jail..

Urdangarin is accused of using his title to embezzle about €6 million in public contracts through a non-profit foundation he and a business partner set up.

Fifteen others are charged in the case, one of several scandals to affect the royal family under former King Juan Carlos, who abdicated in favour of Felipe last year.