Spanish Court Subpoenas King’s Daughter

A Spanish court has subpoenaed Princess Cristina, the daughter of Spain’s King Juan Carlos, as a suspect in an investigation of alleged tax fraud and money laundering, the latest blow to the royal family’s reputation.

Palma de Mallorca court judge Jose Castro on Tuesday ordered the 48-year-old princess to appear March 8 for questioning about her partnership with her husband Inaki Urdangarin in a firm called Aizoon.

Urdangarin is already under investigation for allegedly using his position to embezzle several million dollars in public contracts assigned to a supposedly nonprofit foundation he set up.

The court cancelled a subpoena against the princess for questioning in that case last year.

Cristina would be the first direct relative of the king ever to appear in court accused of wrongdoing.

The probes have seriously damaged the image of 76-year-old Juan Carlos, once one of Spain’s most respected figures.