King Felipe of Spain’s sister Infanta Cristina and her husband Iñaki Urdangarin are separating after 24 years of marriage. The pair announced the news in a statement saying (via ¡HOLA! Spain and translated to English), “By mutual agreement, we have decided to interrupt our marriage relationship. The commitment to our children remains intact.”
© ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP via Getty Images“Since it is a private decision, we ask for the utmost respect from all those around us. Cristina de Borbón and Iñaki Urdangarin”, they added.
Former King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia’s 56-year-old daughter married Iñaki in 1997. Cristina and Iñaki share four children: Juan Urdangarín y de Borbón, 22, Pablo Urdangarín y de Borbón, 21, Miguel Urdangarín y de Borbón, 19, and Irene Urdangarín y de Borbón, 16.
© Getty ImagesThe duo’s statement comes days after Lecturas published photos of Iñaki holding hands with his co-worker Ainhoa Armenti . The pictures reportedly did not catch Infanta Cristina by surprise. “She already knew it,” a source told ¡HOLA! Spain .
When asked about the pictures last week, Iñaki replied: “Things happen and we will manage it in the best possible manner.” As for how his family took the news, the former handball player said, “Like a difficulty that we will manage with the utmost calm and together, as always.”
