When the king of Spain’s youngest sister married an Olympian in a glamorous ceremony at Barcelona cathedral 20 years ago, it was the highlight of a fairytale romance that had enchanted the country.
Now, engulfed in the worst corruption scandal to have hit the Spanish royal family, Princess Cristina faces taking her four children to visit her husband, Iñaki Urdangarin, in prison after the former handball player was sentenced to six years and three months for fraud, influence peddling, misuse of taxpayers’ money and abuse of authority.
The princess, 51, was cleared of colluding with him in a tax evasion scheme but was ordered to pay €265,000 in civil liability damages. Urdangarin, 49, who was also fined €512,000, is expected to appeal to try to