<![CDATA[Ara Balears in English - Marivent Palace]]> 10 <![CDATA[King Juan Carlos returns to Mallorca (and Marivent) after seven years to celebrate an anniversary]]>

Juan Carlos I has returned to Mallorca and the Marivent Palace seven years later. The emeritus king took advantage of a lightning visit to the island to enter on Sunday the residence that concentrated the family, political, and social life of the Spanish monarchy for decades. Before that, he celebrated at the Flanigan restaurant the 80th birthday of its owner, Miguel Arias, an old friend from the times when the establishment was known as 'the King's restaurant', as reported by La Vanguardia.The monarch had arrived on Sunday morning in Mallorca on a private plane from Geneva. The trip coincided with the departure of Felipe VI, who had left the island to visit, along with Queen Letizia, the neighbors displaced by the fires and housed in a sports center in Villamanta, Madrid. That same evening, the monarch traveled to Lima to attend the inauguration of the new president of Peru, Keiko Fujimori.

]]> <![CDATA[A (horrible) day in Marivent]]> Going to Marivent Palace—that building that should belong to the Mallorcans, but is enjoyed only by the Bourbons—is an adventure if the purpose of the visit is work. I've attended many meetings between the president of the Spanish government and the head of state, and the situation is as precarious as ever. The journalists covering this meeting at Marivent—with subsequent statements that aren't exactly notable for their content—seem suspicious of some macabre plot to undermine the monarchy. Upon arrival, we're searched, scanned, and sent out by dogs to sniff everything we're carrying. Thankfully, laptops, pens, and notebooks aren't yet considered dangerous objects, but I suppose it's just a matter of time.

]]> <![CDATA[The kings and princesses are received at the Marivent Palace, while some people ask for the town to return.]]>

Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía participated this Monday for the first time in the reception traditionally held by the King and Queen at the Marivent Palace in Palma. Queen Sofía also attended the reception, having traveled to Palma specifically to attend the event. However, a group of protesters also attended the event, gathering at the palace gates demanding its return to the town. The protesters displayed signs reading "Recuperem Marivent" and banners defending Catalan.

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