Palma.With the King's son-in-law, the Duke of Palma Iñaki Urdangarin and his ex-business partner Diego Torres unable to have met last night's deadline to post bail of 8.2 million euros, the royal household spoke out for the first time.
While the Duke, whose title Palma City Council no longer wants used in public or society, lodged an appeal against the bail claiming it was unjust, the royal household issued a statement in which it denied claims that at any time it pressurised the Duchess of Palma, Princess Cristina to divorce the Duke and give up her royal rights. Rumours have been rife ever since the Duke first appeared in court in Palma a year ago to answer questions about alleged corruption and embezzlement. The royal consort and his former business partner Diego Torres are suspected of having used the non-profit Noos Institute to divert about 6 million euros in public money into their own companies.
Investigators have so far not implicated Cristina, who was co-owner of one of Urdangarin's companies, arguing that she was not aware of his business details.
Yesterday, Palma City Council officially ruled in favour of revoking the name of La Ramblas to its original name after it was named in honour of the Duke and Duchess of Palma when they got married.
Extreme left members of the council want the Duke to be stripped of his title.
Urdangarin will appear in a Palma court again on February 23 to be quizzed about three counts of alleged tax evasion.