Spain's Princess Cristina moves closer to corruption trial
After her brother was proclaimed king, a Spanish judge upheld fraud and money-laundering charges against Princess Cristina on Wednesday, paving the way for a historic trial that could further damage the royal family's reputation. If convicted, Infanta Cristina could face 11 years behind bars. She and her husband, Iñaki Urdangarin, have been under investigation for years on suspicion of embezzling public money through charitable foundations they ran. Cristina testified before a judge on the Spanish island of Mallorca in February. CAPTION Spain's new king Andres Kudacki / Associated Press King Felipe VI waves as the royal family arrives at parliament in Madrid. With the king are Queen Letizia and princesses Leonor, bottom left, and Sofia. At far left is Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. CAPTION Spain's new king Christopher Furlong / Getty Images Supporters of the new king show their colors in Madrid. CAPTION Spain's new king Christopher Furlong / Getty Images Wellwishers gather at the Royal Palace in Madrid. CAPTION Spain's new king Gerard Julien / AFP/ Getty Images King Juan Carlos and Crown Prince Felipe talk at the Royal Palace in Madrid during enactment of a law bringing about Juan Carlos' abdication. CAPTION Spain's new king Christopher Furlong / Getty Images Wellwishers gather at the Royal Palace in Madrid before the new king's official swearing-in ceremony. On Wednesday, that same court formalized charges of money laundering and tax fraud against the princess and nine other counts against her husband, and recommended they go on trial. Lawyers for the couple can still appeal those charges. No trial date has been set. Cristina, 49, is one of King Felipe VI's two older sisters. She was conspicuously absent last week from the ceremonies celebrating her brother's formal accession to the throne that their father, Juan Carlos, occupied for nearly four decades. lRelated EUROPE Felipe VI proclaimed king of Spain in a no-frills ceremony SEE ALL RELATED 8 Last year, Cristina was cut from the royal household's budget, and any mention of her husband was removed from the Royal Palace's website. The couple lives in Geneva with their four children. Cristina remains sixth in line to the Spanish throne. Any trial is likely to add to the negative publicity surrounding the royal family, which has been hit by scandals that have tarnished its image. Polls show that more than half of Spaniards say they are in favor of a referendum on whether to scrap the monarchy and become a republic. Related story: Princess testifies in first criminal case against Spanish royalty Lauren Frayer
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