The memoirs of King Emeritus Juan Carlos I, entitled Reconciliación (Reconciliation), have been available in Spanish bookshops since 3 December. In the book, King Felipe VI’s father devotes special attention to his summers in Mallorca and his relationship with the yacht Fortuna, a vessel that for years was a symbol of the royal presence on the Balearics. The book, which has aroused great expectation, reveals details about the monarch’s decision to give up this luxurious vessel, which has now become a setting for audiovisual productions.
In the pages of his memoirs, Juan Carlos I recalls with nostalgia his stays in Mallorca: “From 1974 onwards, we began to spend Easter and the summer at the Marivent Palace, a house built in the 1920s by the Greek painter Juan de Saridakis and donated in 1966 by his widow to the Balearics. Marivent means “sea and wind” in Catalan, which perfectly describes this large, typically Mallorcan-style building, whose stone façade is covered with ivy on the inside and overlooks the pine-covered cliffs on the sea side.”
The former monarch also explains the reasons for his absence from the island after his abdication: ‘I did not want to be a nuisance to my son and his family, even though the house’s facilities allow for independent living. Furthermore, I no longer had the Fortuna, my yacht, which was sold for budgetary reasons.’
King Juan Carlos justifies giving up the Fortuna for economic reasons: ‘After a decade of service, repairs were too costly and replacing it was unthinkable.’ He also fondly recalls his routines on the island: “What I loved about Palma was going out to sea, not staying cooped up at home. I would go for my morning coffee at the restaurant of my loyal and discreet friend Miguel Arias, near the port, and then I would set sail.” The yacht Fortuna mentioned by Juan Carlos I in his memoirs was not the first to bear this name in the monarch’s possession. The first Fortuna had been a gift from the King of Saudi Arabia in the late 1970s.
However, the boat he refers to in his book was a later gift, presented by a group of Mallorcan businessmen in 2000 and built by the Izar shipyard in San Fernando (Cadiz) with a budget of €18 million. This 43-metre-long vessel had four cabins with capacity for up to eight people and spacious outdoor areas. For thirteen years, the Spanish royal family enjoyed its facilities until, in 2013, King Juan Carlos I decided to renounce its use as part of the austerity measures adopted in the midst of the economic crisis. The high maintenance costs, which included €25,000 just to fill the fuel tank, made it unsustainable to keep.
After the renunciation, National Heritage returned the yacht to the Balearic Islands Tourism and Cultural Foundation (Fundatur). It was not until 2018 that the shipping company Baleària acquired the vessel, now renamed Foners, for €2.2 million, a fraction of its original value. This change of name and owner marked the beginning of a new era for what was once a symbol of royal summers in Mallorca. Currently, while Baleària is trying to sell the vessel, it offers the possibility of renting it at rates that vary according to the season.
Between January and May, the daily price is €19,240, while in high season (July and August) it rises to €21,660. The former Fortuna, now Foners, was completely remodelled in 2023 to adapt to its new role as a luxury charter vessel. Among its current amenities are a terrace with sun loungers, a bar and sunbathing areas at both the bow and stern. It also has a hydraulic ladder that facilitates access to the sea for swimming. Inside, guests can enjoy a jacuzzi, cinema room, state-of-the-art entertainment systems, Wi-Fi and air conditioning. Additional services include jet skis, snorkelling equipment, floats, paddle surfboards and a floating platform.
This transformation has led to the former royal yacht becoming a setting for audiovisual productions. In October 2024, while moored in Ibiza, the Foners hosted the filming of an innovative format for the Disney+ platform. This programme, currently in post-production, brings together affluent parents with people who aspire to work as nannies or carers for their children. In addition to the yacht, the production team also filmed at various locations on the Pitiusan island, such as the El Silencio restaurant in Cala Molí and the Nassau and SHU Talamanca beach clubs.
The publication of Juan Carlos I’s memoirs has generated considerable media and social interest in Spain. After years of controversy surrounding his personal finances and private life, the king emeritus has sought to offer his version of events through this autobiographical book. In Reconciliación, Juan Carlos I also mentions the Royal Family’s ongoing relationship with Mallorca: “Now it is up to my son to continue promoting the island, welcoming heads of state and participating in the sailing competition, the Copa del Rey. Sofia continues to spend every summer there, with the utmost discretion, with her sister, Princess Irene.” These words reflect the special bond that the Spanish Royal Family maintains with the Balearic island, despite the changes experienced in recent years.