First of many meetings with King Hussein of Jordan
Prince Juan Carlos of Spain married Constantine’s sister Sophia in 1962. I first visited the couple in Madrid the following year and returned every year to produce articles about them and became a trusted friend and confidant.
When, in 1969, the Spanish dictator Franco named Juan Carlos as his successor as chief of state, many Spaniards and observers abroad saw the prince as merely a puppet of the Franco regime. I knew, however, but could not reveal then, that Juan Carlos saw the future Spain as a constitutional monarchy, like the United Kingdom.
Franco died in September 1975 and Juan Carlos ascended the throne. He moved rapidly to sack the Francoist government, hand-picked a new closet democrat as prime minister and the Spaniards soon enjoyed
their first democratic election in the country’s history. I joined the king and for two years worked for the royal house and ministry of information to highlight the king’s role in building a democratic Spain. I travelled through Spain with the king and on state visits abroad: South America, Europe, Egypt, Jordan and Washington. I produced the first film portrait of the king and a book, España Cierta (confident Spain).
This was the pinnacle of my whole journalistic career. I felt like I was a part of history, however small. Years later I went sailing with King Juan Carlos in Galicia. Over morning coffee aboard the royal yacht Fortuna, we reminisced about those days in the Seventies. “Spencer, you taught me so much [about the media] then,” he said. It was high praise which I shall never forget.
The highlight of the second chukker was Charlie riding a
seemingly pretty grey that loved to go in reverse even when being pushed to go forward.
Thanks from King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia of Spain THE LONDON POLO CLUB Sailing with King Juan Carlos off the coast of Galicia 49
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