Monarchies in marital meltdown! King Charles can count on his ‘rock’ Camilla, but his fellow European royals have been hit with a year of sensational claims about the state of their marriages

It’s been a chaotic year for King Charles – amid tensions with his son Prince Harry, the release of his memoir Spare, and further fallouts from Omid Scobie‘s Endgame.

However, the royal, 75 – and his wife Camilla – appear steady as ever after 18 years of marriage, despite turbulent romantic histories and pasts.

Annabel Elliot, the Queen’s sister, recently described her as the King’s ‘rock’, while her close friend, Lady Lansdowne, said the fact that the couple had to ‘fight’ to be together has only strengthened their unshakeable ‘bond’.

And speaking publicly for the first time about the King and Queen’s long relationship, Princess Anne – not known for her emotional effusiveness – gave her sister-in-law the royal seal of approval.

‘I’ve known her a long time off and on. Her understanding of the role and how much difference it makes to the King has been absolutely outstanding,’ she said.

‘This role is not something that she’d be a natural for but she does it really well. She provides that change of speed and tone, that’s equally important.’

The women were interviewed for tonight’s BBC One royal documentary following Charles’s first year as monarch, Charles III: The Coronation Year.

However, amid the couple’s united front at the helm of the British monarchy, it would seem their neighbours on the continent haven’t fared as well.

In the past few months alone, European monarchies have been shaken by scandalous claims of affairs – with some choosing to ignore the rumours, while others publicly denied infidelity allegations and slammed reports.

Most recently, Queen Letizia of Spain was embroiled in scandal after her ex-brother in law claimed that he had an affair with the royal before and after her marriage to the King.

Elsewhere The Danish Royal Family was rocked by affair claims when photographs emerged of Prince Frederik enjoying a night out with a Mexican socialite in Madrid in October.

This year also saw Princess Charlene of Monaco and her husband Albert facing fresh rumours of being married for ‘appearances only’ and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and her husband slamming claims they were ever on the brink of divorce.

Here, FEMAIL looks at how monarchies across Europe have fared with rumours of marital woes in 2023… 

QUEEN LETIZIA AND KING FELIPE OF SPAIN

This month the Spanish royal family was rocked by sensational claims from Queen Letizia’s ex brother-in-law, who alleged that he had a relationship with the royal, 51, before and after her marriage to King Felipe.

Jaime Del Burgo, a Spanish businessman now living in the UK, who was once married to the Queen’s sister Telma Ortiz, recently contributed to a tell-all book called Letizia y Yo (Letizia and I).

In it, he claimed he and Letizia were dating when she met Felipe and were still romantically involved after her 2004 wedding to the King. 

Following the bombshell claims, the entrepreneur shared a selfie the Queen took in a mirror during one of her pregnancies as ‘evidence’ of their relationship.

In the selfie, the royal can be seen wearing a black pashmina – which Del Burgo claims belonged to him – and he also typed out a message in his social media post, supposedly sent to him by Letizia. 

It read: ‘Love. I wear your pashmina. It’s like feeling you by my side. It takes care of me. It protects me. I count the hours until we see each other again. Love you. Get out of here. Yours,’ 

Spanish media have reported other messages he supposedly posted on X, which the entrepreneur is understood to have removed shortly after he published them, that pointed to them having a secret affair after Letizia married Felipe. 

After sharing the selfie, other X users questioned the validity of Del Burgo’s claims – given there is no evidence that Letizia sent him the photo or accompanying message.

The Spanish palace has declined to comment on the allegations.

Father-of-two Del Burgo, who divorced Telma Ortiz by mutual consent in 2016 four years after they married and two years after they split up, claimed in the book that he was carrying an engagement ring in his pocket during a meeting at Madrid’s Ritz Hotel with his ‘then-girlfriend’ Letizia in 2002 when she told him she had fallen in love with the future King of Spain.

He alleged he became friends with Felipe after they met and was asked by Letizia to be a witness at their wedding.

He also recalled a moment he says occurred following Princess Leonor’s birth when they were lying together in a hammock by a pool, saying in the book, which was released last month: ‘Letizia told me “I love you” and I responded “I love you”.’

Telma is now with Irish lawyer Gavin Bonnar and the couple welcomed their first child together in October 2021. Gavin shares two children with his first wife – musician Sharon Corr.

In her recent album, The Fool & The Scorpion, Sharon wrote lyrics which included the phrase ‘the queen’s twisted sister’ – which fans speculated were inspired by her children’s new step-mother.

Meanwhile, Del Burgo married Swedish lawyer Lucía Díaz Liljestrom.

His X bio also says he is father to ‘Ulla and Liv’. 

What’s more, the royal’s ex-brother-in-law also made the far-fetched claim that he ‘dealt’ with Letizia’s pre-nuptial agreement and helped to front the cost of the Queen’s family’s wedding outfits.

He is quoted as saying: ‘When the wedding with Felipe came round, I dealt with the pre-nuptial agreement as you know, amongst other things.

‘I also had to pay Letizia’s family’s expenses because [former King] Juan Carlos refused to pay or even go halves with me. So with the help of my friend Felipe Varela, I dressed her mum, grandmother and her sisters. And with the help of Jaime Jason, her father, grandparents and a cousin.’ 

In the book, Letizia’s alleged ex-lover describes Felipe as a ‘kind-hearted man’ and even goes on to say that he had a ‘great friendship’ with the royal.  He told the author: ‘I told him my problems and he told [me] his.’

One of the most damaging claims Del Burgo reportedly makes is that Letizia suggested they have a child together using a surrogate in Los Angeles.

Around this time, Del Burgo claims that he confronted Letizia after photos of her kissing Felipe appeared on the covers of Spanish magazines. He claims the Queen told him: ‘I had to do it to protect us.’ 

Jaime Penafiel goes on to write that when Sofia was born, Jaime del Burgo became uncle to both of the girls.

It then quotes him as saying: ‘It was a beautiful period. I didn’t have children, and those girls made me so happy. I was working in Brazil and suffered a pulmonary embolism.

‘I was in intensive care for a fortnight. I managed to get the Albert Einstein Hospital to give me a telephone Letizia and I spoke to each other every day on [the phone].

‘During my visits to Madrid I would often go to the cinema with Felipe, Letizia and some friends. Letizia and I would always sit together, holding hands. They were moments of happiness.’

However in August 2011, Letizia allegedly abruptly ended their relationship when she called him and said: ‘We can’t continue seeing each other.’

Following this, Del Burgo claims that a female friend told him to get in touch with Telma – who he had met when he first started going out with the queen.

The following year, the pair got engaged after just two months of dating. The Queen’s sister already had her daughter Amanda from her relationship with ex-partner Enrique Martin Llop.

In 2012, the pair relocated to New York to start their married life – but Telma returned to Barcelona that same year before announcing their permanent separation.

Despite the rumours – and Del Burgo seemingly doubling-down on the allegations on social media – Letizia and Felipe have put on a united front.

Making their first public appearance together since Letizia’s ex-brother-in-law claimed he’d had an affair with the royal earlier this month, the pair appeared loved up as ever.

They brushed off the scandalous allegations and beamed as they arrived at a meeting with officials from the Princesa de Girona Foundation at the royal palace in Madrid.

Dressed in a scarlet red top and a black skirt with floral detailing, paired with knee length suede boots, mother-of-two Letizia looked up at her husband and smiled as they strolled into the room.

Meanwhile Felipe, looking sharp as always in a tailored suit, beamed back at his wife as they appeared deep in conversation.

And days later, the pair appeared happy as ever as they arrived for Infanta Elena’s 60th birthday party in Madrid.

Letizia cut an elegant figure for her sister-in-law’s celebrations as she arrived at the exclusive Pabú restaurant with Felipe in the country’s capital.

Meanwhile the King looked equally dapper in a dark grey suit.

The royal paired his suit with a light blue shirt, red patterned tie and maroon patent shoes. 

The couple were seen happily speaking to staff as they arrived, before later peering their heads around the door to wave to royal fans.

PRINCESS MARY AND CROWN PRINCE FREDERIK OF DENMARK 

The Danish Royal Family have been hit by rumours in recent weeks – after photographs emerged of Prince Frederik enjoying a night out with a Mexican socialite in Madrid in October.

Mary and Frederik’s 23-year romance has often been dubbed a ‘real-life fairytale’ – yet the couple’s relationship has made headlines over recent weeks for less glowing reasons.

Spanish magazine Lecturas reported that, during their night out, Frederik – who is a fourth cousin of King Charles – and Genoveva visited a Pablo Picasso exhibition, walked through El Retiro Park and later went out for dinner.

At around 7pm, Lecturas claimed both Frederik and Genoveva went to her apartment building separately, and both re-emerged at around 9pm, two hours later, both having changed their clothes into evening wear. 

In the photos, Genoveva had ditched her chic camel coat with a tie belt in favour of a white shirt, black wide-leg trousers and a black jacket worn on her shoulders.

Meanwhile Frederik appeared to have changed from a navy jacket and brown trousers into a white shirt and dark trousers with a smart dark jacket. Again, they were reported to have emerged from the building separately, but got into the same white car.

The magazine claimed the pair watched a flamenco performance at a Spanish restaurant, El Corral de la Moreria, which finished at midnight.

It also claimed they remained at their table, which had been flanked by two of the Danish Prince’s bodyguards, while other customers left, waiters finished up their shifts and the lights were being switched off.

Lecturas claimed the pair did not emerge from the restaurant until 1am, when they walked out onto the street and got in a car.

In a ‘gesture of courtesy’, Lecturas reports Prince Frederik opened the car door for his dinner companion.

The next day, the magazine claims the heir to the Danish throne was taken to the airport via car where he flew home to Denmark.

Publication of the pictures in Lecturas led the divorcee Mexican socialite to issue a statement ‘categorically’ denying any suggestion the pair are romantically involved, branding it ‘malicious’ and untrue, according to Hola!.

The news broke amid a packed schedule of events for the royal couple during the state visit King Felipe of Spain and his wife Queen Letizia, and will no doubt have been viewed as an unwelcome distraction by Mary, who has scarcely put a foot wrong in her almost two decades as a working royal.

Since the photos emerged Mary has remained tight-lipped about her husband’s dinner with the socialite, and the pair have put on a united display in public appearances. 

However, during one instance after the publication of the photos, body language expert Judi James told FEMAIL that Mary looked ‘disengaged’ when joining the Spanish King and Queen in Copenhagen in November. 

Her husband, meanwhile, appeared ‘hesitant’ towards his wife while on the outing with King Felipe and Queen Letizia during their visit to Denmark.

PRINCESS CHARLENE AND PRINCE ALBERT OF MONACO

This year Princess Charlene of Monaco and her husband Albert faced fresh rumours of being married for ‘appearances only’.

In September, Charlene slammed the ‘exhausting’ claims, insisting that she’s ‘serene and happy’ in her relationship – denying reports that surfaced in German and French media that she was now ‘living in Switzerland’ and that her marriage was ‘ceremonial’. 

Speaking to South Africa’s News24, the princess, who shares twins Jacques and Gabriella with Prince Albert, said: ‘I find the rumours [about my marriage] tiring and exhausting.’

In particular, she was referring to claims made in German newspaper Bild and French outlet Voici that she had moved to Switzerland and returned to Monaco ‘by appointment’ to carry out official engagements with the prince.

Insisting there is ‘nothing wrong’ with her marriage, the former Olympic swimmer said: ‘I just don’t understand where these rumours come from.’

Speculation about the couple’s marriage was further fuelled this summer when Charlene deleted her Instagram account.

However, the mother-of-two shut down suspicions around her decision, claiming it was purely to protect the privacy of her children.

She revealed she wants to keep the twins away from the ‘pressure’ of life in the public eye for as long as possible – although she admits they are already picking things up. 

Speaking about the close-knit siblings, she said she is ‘grateful’ to know they will always be there for one another.

The rumour mill went into overdrive when Charlene spent most of 2021 away from her husband after returning to her native South Africa for what was supposed to be a month-long trip.

She wasn’t pictured in Monaco from January 2021 until March 2022, citing a sinus issue which stopped her from flying.

She missed the seventh birthday of her twins Gabriella and Jacques and her tenth wedding anniversary with Albert.

CROWN PRINCESS VICTORIA AND PRINCE DANIEL OF SWEDEN

Earlier this year, the husband of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden has denied that there has been infidelity in his marriage and that the couple were ever on the brink of divorce in a rare television interview.

Prince Daniel slammed what he labelled a ‘mean and false rumour’ about his marriage to the nation’s heir apparent.

He lashed out at those circulating the suggestions on social media and in parts of the Swedish press, saying the claims had had ‘serious consequences’ for his family.

‘Many friends from across Sweden and overseas have got in touch and things arrived at a certain point where we felt we could no longer accept it,’ he revealed. 

‘I don’t think there is any sane person who believes in this rumour.’

The comments were made in a sit-down with SVT ahead of the future King Consort’s 50th birthday in September.

Victoria and Daniel, who share two children, Princess Estelle, 11, and Prince Oscar, seven, celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary this year.

Previously a gym owner, Daniel, who was born Olof Daniel Westling, met Victoria at a training session before the pair began dating in 2002.

The couple announced their highly-anticipated engagement in 2009 and tied the knot a year later. 

Sweden’s royal court was forced to deny reports last year that an ‘incredible betrayal’ had brought Victoria and Daniel’s marriage to a point of crisis.

It took the unusual step of putting out a statement to deny the ‘extensive negative rumours’, saying: ‘We wish to make it clear, once and for all, that the rumours that are now spreading are completely baseless.’ 

A statement on the couple’s Instagram read: ‘It has come to our attention that there are widespread negative rumours about our private relationship. 

‘Allegations are being spread about betrayal in the relationship and an impending divorce.

‘Normally, we do not comment on rumours and speculation. But in order to protect our family, we wish to make it clear, once and for all, that the rumours that are now spreading are completely unfounded.’

Swedish news site Stoppa Pressarna doubled down on the reports, however.

Daniel Nyhlen, the reporter who first published the claims, insisted: ‘We had very credible informants, including special police guards and other staff close to the couple,’ 

He told a podcast for newspaper Svenska Dagbladet: ‘I really had no qualms about it. This is about Sweden’s constitution.’