Former King of Spain to face paternity suit

THE Supreme Court has decided to examine the case of a Belgian woman who claims to be King Juan Carlos’s illegitimate daughter.

Ingrid Sartiau says that her mother and King Juan Carlos had an affair in the 1960s while he was married and a crown prince.

The court also studied but rejected a separate claim by Alberto Sola, who was born in Barcelona in 1956 and also said his mother had an affair with King Juan Carlos.

The former king now has 20 days to respond to the suit and could be required to take a paternity test.

The two paternity cases were rejected by the courts in 2012, and although parliament agreed to give him a level of immunity after his abdication in favour of his son last summer, the Supreme Court does now have the authority to prosecute him.

Royal officials refused to comment apart from stating that they respected the independence of the court.