King Felipe and Queen Letizia are cutting short their time in
Greece and missing the burial of his aunt, Princess Irene, to
return to Spain after a terrible accident left dozens dead.
Felipe and Letizia decided to leave the funeral ceremonies for
Irene early after the full scale of a train crash at Adamuz in
Andalucia became clear.
At least 39 people have been killed in the accident with over
150 injured. Of those, 48 are being treated in hospital and 12,
including a child, are in intensive care.
As King Felipe left for the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens for
the funeral of his aunt, he told reporters that he would return to
Spain as soon as possible. Queen Letizia and their daughters,
Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, stood at his side as he
delivered his sombre message.
Queen Letizia added that their priority was to be with those
affected and to help in any way they could.
The King of Spain also said he was thinking of all those
affected. Earlier, the royals issued a statement saying that they
were following updates on the accident, between two high speed
trains, with ”great concern” and added ”we extend our deepest
condolences to family members and loved ones of those who have
died, as well as our best wishes for a quick recovery for those
injured.”
It’s understood that King Felipe and Queen Letizia will travel
to Adamuz on January 20 to meet rescuers and emergency services as
well as some of those injured, if the doctors treating them think
they are well enough.
Spain’s royals had travelled to Athens before the accident took
place. They were joining other family members there for the funeral
of Princess Irene of Greece, Felipe’s maternal aunt, who died on
January 15 2026 at the age of 83. She was the younger sister of
Queen Sofia, 87, who had been her constant companion in recent
years as Irene’s heath declined.
Also at the funeral were Irene’s other nephews and nieces, the
children of her brother, the late King Constantine of Greece. His
eldest son, Crown Prince Pavlos, arrived at the cathedral with his
brothers, Prince Nikolaos and Prince Philippos, walking past
wreaths sent by royalty from around Europe.
Princess Irene, the youngest child of King Paul and Queen
Frederica of Greece, had lived in Spain for the past forty years
but retained a strong link to and affection for Greece.
She will be buried in the Greek royal family cemetery at Tatoi.
King Felipe and Queen Letizia had been set to attend the burial but
will now depart Greece early to get back to Spain as the country
deals with its worst train accident in over a decade.
