Disgraced former king of Spain's memoir details 'enormous respect' for Franco

Former Spanish King Juan Carlos's memoir 'Reconciliation' appears to be little more than a cry for help as he chronicles his tumultuous past and expresses feelings of abandonment by his family, particularly his son, King Felipe VI.

The 500-page book delves into Juan Carlos's early years under dictator Francisco Franco, with whom he felt an enormous respect for the late leader. According to Juan Carlos, he had "appreciated his intelligence and political sense" and even recalls sitting beside Franco as he lay dying in a hospital bed. The former king was summoned by Franco at just 10 years old to prepare him for succession.

Franco's legacy, however, is one of controversy, with Juan Carlos also detailing his long-running affair with the Danish-German socialite Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, which he claims damaged his reputation and led to his downfall. He also writes about the death of his 14-year-old brother Alfonso in Portugal, a traumatic event that has never been fully investigated.

Despite his efforts to defend Spain's transition to democracy following the 1981 coup attempt, Juan Carlos feels that he was never truly free himself. The former king notes that his son, Felipe VI, has turned against him out of duty, while those who claim to be his friends have also distanced themselves.

Juan Carlos's memoir is seen as a personal reckoning as he expresses feelings of abandonment and betrayal from his own family members, including his son and other close relatives. The book's publication marks the 50th anniversary of Franco's death, but Juan Carlos has not been invited to the ceremony, further evidence of what he sees as his rejection by Spain and its people.

The memoir also delves into Juan Carlos's lavish lifestyle, including a €65m gift from Saudi Arabia that he accepts, despite claiming it was a "grave mistake." He is unlikely to endear himself to Spaniards with this comment, saying that he is the only Spaniard who receives no pension after nearly 40 years of service.

Juan Carlos abdicated in 2014 and now resides in Abu Dhabi during the Covid pandemic, which claimed nearly 35,000 Spanish lives. His memoir appears to be a complex web of emotions, regret, and self-pity as he reflects on his life and legacy.

I'm low-key surprised that Juan Carlos is airing all this dirty laundry in his book . It feels like he's trying to justify his actions or get sympathy from readers, but honestly, it comes across as a bit manipulative . I mean, I get that the guy had some rough experiences under Franco and with his family drama, but does he have to make everything about him? And that €65m gift from Saudi Arabia is just wild . Like, dude, you're not gonna endear yourself to Spaniards by saying you're the only one who doesn't get a pension after 40 years of service . Still, I suppose his memoir is a reflection of his complex emotions and regrets about his past, even if it's a bit self-indulgent .

It's crazy how Juan Carlos is still trying to make sense of it all at this stage. I mean, we can't blame the guy for feeling abandoned or hurt by his own family, especially when you think about the legacy of Franco. But here's the thing – his memoir comes across as more like a whiny cry than a genuine attempt to reflect on his actions and their consequences. It's easy to look back now and see the mistakes he made, but what about the hard work he put in to try and make things right? Shouldn't that count for something? Anyway, it's clear that this memoir is a very personal journey of self-discovery – if not just a exercise in airing his grievances.

omg, can u believe that guy was only 10 yrs old when he became king?? like, what? i cant even imagine having that kinda responsibility at such a young age. and now he's all upset because his son doesnt want to hang out with him lol, i get it though, family drama is the worst. btw has anyone read this book or do u guys think its gonna be a bestseller?

idk why ppl r makin such a big deal outta juan carlos's memoir lol he's just bein real about his past & his fam problems. like, who hasn't felt abandoned or betrayed by someone u love? even tho hes been accused of havin an affair & acceptin a 65m gift from saudi arabia, idc lol he's still human & deserves some sympathy btw i dont get why hes so mad at felipe vi & the spanish ppl tho. cant we all just get along?

Umm... I think Juan Carlos's memoir is kinda a mix of both, like my favorite pizza toppings - you know? He's right that Franco's legacy is super complicated and stuff, but at the same time, who can blame him for feeling abandoned by his own family? His son Felipe VI does seem to have distanced himself from him, which is pretty weird considering their dad-son relationship . But, like, Juan Carlos also kinda deserved it, you know? I mean, he was involved in some shady stuff with Franco and later got a bunch of cash from Saudi Arabia that he basically admitted was a mistake . And let's be real, his lavish lifestyle doesn't exactly scream "selfless dedication to Spain" ... still, I guess the book is kinda cathartic for him, even if it does come off as a bit entitled and whiny .

man this book is gonna be super hard for Juan Carlos to swallow... i feel bad for him, but at the same time, it's like he's trying to relive his past instead of moving on . accepting that €65m gift from Saudi Arabia as a "grave mistake" though? come on, dude, you were in power . and the fact that Felipe VI is distant from him now? that's just reality, fam . but what's even more sad is that Juan Carlos feels like he was never truly free himself after Spain's transition to democracy... it's like he's stuck in a cycle of regret and self-pity .

I mean, can you blame him for feeling that way? He was basically groomed by Franco from a young age, and now it sounds like his own family is giving him the cold shoulder. The fact that Felipe VI has distanced himself from him too is no surprise – who would want to associate with their dad's shady past? And let's be real, accepting a €65m gift from Saudi Arabia without admitting it was a mistake is just not gonna sit well with the Spanish people. Juan Carlos might as well be asking for sympathy... and honestly, he doesn't exactly deserve it right now

I'm not sure I'd want to read a book that's just a bunch of whining about being abandoned by your own family . I mean, Juan Carlos was the one who abdicated in 2014 and moved to Abu Dhabi, can't he take responsibility for his own life? It sounds like this memoir is more about him playing the victim than actually confronting his past mistakes . And what's with all these lavish gifts from Saudi Arabia? €65m is a lot of money, dude . He should focus on giving it back to the people of Spain instead of complaining about not getting any pension .

I'm kinda surprised Juan Carlos is speaking out like this, especially given all the controversy surrounding Franco's regime . On one hand, I get why he'd want to set the record straight about his past and express his feelings of abandonment – it's not easy to live with those kinds of emotions for so long.

But at the same time, some of these comments do come off as a bit entitled . Like, accepting that €65m gift from Saudi Arabia is just a "grave mistake" doesn't exactly scream accountability . And saying he's the only Spaniard who receives no pension after 40 years of service? That's hard to swallow .

I think what's most interesting about this memoir is how it reveals the complexities of Juan Carlos's personality and the emotional toll his past has taken on him . It's like he's trying to make sense of all these conflicting emotions, but it's also hard not to feel a bit sorry for him – he did live through some really tumultuous times, after all .

Still, I'm not sure if this memoir will win over the hearts of Spaniards anytime soon . Maybe time will tell, though

I'm low-key surprised that Juan Carlos's memoir is getting so much attention . I mean, we all knew he was always the "wild card" in Spanish royal history, but this stuff? It sounds like a real tear-jerker . He's talking about being summoned by Franco at 10 years old and having an affair with a socialite who damaged his rep... it's wild .

But what really gets me is how Juan Carlos feels about his son Felipe VI . Like, he thinks Felipe turned against him out of duty? That's some deep-seated family drama right there . And the part about him not getting a pension after 40 years of service? Umm... yeah, that's gonna sit well with Spaniards .

I'm also kinda curious to see how the Spanish people will react to this memoir when it comes out. Will they be all like "Oh, poor Juan Carlos" or "Get over yourself"? Either way, I'm sure it'll be a juicy scandal that'll keep us talking for a while .

this whole thing is so messed up... i mean, you feel for the guy, but 500 pages of just him crying about how abandoned he feels? like, dude, you were a king, you had power, you got to live in some sick mansions... but now it seems like everyone's turned on you. and with good reason too - all that corruption stuff he did during Franco's reign is no joke . and don't even get me started on the whole affair thing... women are always getting dragged into these situations for men, it's crazy.

anywayz, i guess this book is like a big cry for help, and maybe we'll finally get some closure on what really happened with Franco and his regime . but honestly, can't he just be happy that Spain transitioned to democracy and he gets to live out his days in peace?

This memoir is like, super weird . I mean, I get why he's feeling abandoned by his family, especially his son, but 500 pages? That's just too much drama . And can we talk about the timing? It's the 50th anniversary of Franco's death and Juan Carlos still feels like he's not getting the love from Spain . I mean, I'm all for reflection and acknowledging past mistakes, but this comes off as a bit self-serving . And that €65m gift from Saudi Arabia? Come on, dude, own up to it instead of saying it was a "grave mistake" . It's like he's trying to spin the narrative to feel better about himself rather than taking responsibility for his actions . Anyway, I guess this memoir is just a way for him to process all these emotions and try to make sense of his legacy .

I'm so done with Juan Carlos's whole vibe rn . Like, I get it, the guy had some tough experiences growing up under Franco, but come on, he's still trying to spin himself as a victim even after all these years... 500 pages of "cry for help" is just code for "I'm still bitter and insecure". And btw, who gives a €65m gift from Saudi Arabia without thinking twice? Not exactly the most subtle commentary on his own lavish lifestyle. And let's be real, if he's gonna diss his son Felipe VI like that, at least have the decency to do it in person instead of in print . Overall, just another example of how the old guard is still struggling to come to terms with their own legacy...

i think juan carlos's memoir is kinda like, super relatable? he's just being honest about his past mistakes and feelings, you know? but at the same time, like, isn't it a bit selfish to trash his son felipe vii and other family members in public? i mean, don't get me wrong, juan carlos has some serious regrets, but can't he just own up to his mistakes without dragging everyone else down with him?

and omg, €65m from saudi arabia? that's like, a lot of money! i feel bad for juan carlos, but also kinda...not so much? is he just being honest about how he feels about receiving it, or is he actually expecting us to sympathize with him and his 'grave mistake'?

anyway, like, what's the point of even publishing this memoir if he's just gonna be all negative and bitter? i guess that's just the way it goes when you're looking back on your life and legacy...