# Juan Carlos I travels to Spain and France

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/juan-carlos-i-travels-to-spain-and-france
> Updated: 2026-09-22T06:30:00.000Z. Sources: 21. Developments: 3.

Former Spanish King Juan Carlos I traveled to Galicia and France in September 2026 for professional and personal engagements. Initially, the emeritus king was scheduled to participate in the 11th Rey Juan Carlos I-El Corte Inglés Máster International Regatta in Sanxenxo as the skipper of the boat ‘Bribón’.

Following his time in Sanxenxo, where he engaged in social and family activities, Juan Carlos I traveled to La Ferté-Vidame, France, to receive the Saint-Simon Prize for Reconciliation. The award was granted in recognition of his memoirs, ‘Réconciliation’, co-authored with historian Laurence Debray. This follows a special jury prize from the French National Assembly awarded to the book earlier in the year.

During his acceptance speech, delivered in French, the 88-year-old monarch described the book as his ‘last legacy’ to the Spanish people, intended to provide his ‘part of the truth’ with authenticity and sincerity. He admitted that the decision to write the memoirs was ‘more reckless than prudent’ but felt driven to leave a testimony for posterity. He also noted that writing memoirs often requires a distance from court and power, drawing parallels to the 18th-century Duke of Saint-Simon.

In his speech, Juan Carlos I emphasized his enduring connection to his homeland, stating, ‘Wherever I live, I will always belong to Spain.’ The ceremony, held on September 20, 2026, was attended by his daughter, Infanta Elena, and his granddaughters, Victoria Federica and Irene Urdangarin. Beyond the literary recognition, observers and non-verbal communication experts noted the former monarch's physical gestures and interactions with the press during the event.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-22: Juan Carlos I receives Saint-Simon Prize in France

Former Spanish King Juan Carlos I received the Saint-Simon Prize in France for his memoirs, ‘Réconciliation’, during a ceremony in La Ferté-Vidame.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/juan-carlos-i-receives-saint-simon-prize-in-france

### 2026-09-19: Juan Carlos I receives Saint-Simon Prize for memoirs in France

Former Spanish King Juan Carlos I received the Saint-Simon Prize in France for his memoirs ‘Reconciliation’, calling the work his ‘last legacy’ and affirming his lifelong belonging to Spain.

18 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/juan-carlos-i-visits-sanxenxo-for-regatta-and-private-events

### 2026-09-14: Juan Carlos I to visit Sanxenxo for international regatta

Juan Carlos I is expected in Sanxenxo this Wednesday for an international regatta. He will not attend the full event as he is scheduled to receive the Saint-Simon Prize in France on Sunday.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/juan-carlos-i-to-visit-sanxenxo-for-international-regatta

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Cite as: Juan Carlos I travels to Spain and France. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/juan-carlos-i-travels-to-spain-and-france