From Movie Favorite to Bad Son-in-Law: We Discuss Urdangarin’s Marriage Nearly 25 Years After Their Marriage

Cristina and Iñaki met at the athlete’s restaurant in Barcelona. It was 1996 when Urdangarin and his partners organized a celebration in honor of the athletes who had competed in the Atlanta Olympics and who had managed to return home with a medal. Among the guests was a very young Infanta Cristina who did not hesitate to drop by to greet the handball team that had won the bronze. The daughter of the emeritus kings remained addicted to the look of “that blonde”whose cell phone he requested.

The daughter of Don Juan Carlos showed great interest in that athlete, which she did not hesitate to take the first step in a story that would end in marriage. “The Infanta called me,” he told his friends, “what should I do?”, were the words of Iñaki after the phone call from Doña Cristina. The first date was organized by the royal, a cinema with Alexia de Grecia and Carlos Morales, who would also become husband and wife. The four enjoyed a good movie and then went for a drink. Cristina was captivated by Urdangarin’s charms and it was clear to her that he was the man of her life.

Days later, the second date arrived, this time as a couple, though always accompanied by the infanta’s four attendants. Iñaki lived in a reality he could not have dreamed of, and it seems that little by little the charms of Doña Cristina and the world she came from caught the handball player’s attention. inaki he saw that his relationship with Cristina was serious and he decided to leave his girlfriend from that moment, Carmen Camí, a young Catalan with whom he came to plan his marriage. This is where the relationship officially begins.

The first contact with the family was wonderful. He then King Juan Carlos was happy with his new son-in-law, a young athlete, friendly, open-minded and attractive as well. Queen Sofia told the media that they were “elated” about her daughter Cristina’s new boyfriend. However, before meeting, they did not see the relationship as very favorable, because it was strange that a royal was dating an athlete. The Infanta Cristina made it clear to them that she would continue with him despite everything, and finally managed to conquer her in-laws with great charisma.

The affinity between Don Juan Carlos and Iñaki reached such a point that he was rumored to be his favorite son-in-law. At the time, nothing suggested that the relationship would end. However, many say that although he saw a nice guy in his daughter’s husband, he did not trust him and never took his eyes off him. So much so that it looks like it was his own emeritus king who suggested the CNI monitor his beloved son-in-law’s activities, phone calls, and emails. And as soon as the Nóos case was discovered, Don Juan Carlos left Urdangarin without hesitation. Meanwhile, he took it upon himself to protect his youngest daughter at all costs, to prevent her from ending up behind bars.

Although Iñaki Urdangarin could not get out of prison, his wife only had to pay a fine of more than 250,000 euros. At the time, there were many who believed the marriage was practically broken, but it wasn’t until the end of 2021 that their relationship would come to an end. Ainhoa ​​​​Armentia, Urdangarin’s new girlfriend, was seen walking the streets of Vitoria by the former Duke of Palma. One fine day the press captured an image of them both and the magazine ‘Lecturas’ gave the exclusivity. Shortly afterwards, in the same way as with the infanta Elena, official statement announcing the “temporary shutdown” of a marriage that was already leaking. Many pointed out that Doña Cristina was still completely in love with her husband, but that he had already built his life next to a stranger until now. It seems that the infanta must have uttered the famous magic words to the emeritus: “Daddy, you were right”.