Infanta Cristina, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca
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The Infanta Cristina, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca (Cristina Federica Victoria Antonia de la Santísima Trinidad de Borbón y de Grecia), born June 13, 1965), is the younger daughter of King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Sofía.
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[edit] Birth
Doña Cristina was born in Madrid and was baptised at the Palacio de La Zarzuela by the Archbishop of Madrid. Her godparents were Alfonso, Duke of Anjou and Cádiz, and Infanta María Cristina of Spain.
[edit] Education
She received her secondary education at Santa María del Camino School and she graduated from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid in 1989 with a degree in political science. She continued her studies at New York University, obtaining a master's degree in international relations in 1990. In 1991, she gained practical experience working at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
The Infanta is fluent in Catalan, English, French, Greek and Spanish.
[edit] Marriage and children
She married team handball player Iñaki Urdangarin in Barcelona on October 4, 1997, at which time her father conferred on her the title Duchess of Palma de Mallorca for life [1]. They have four children, all born in Barcelona:
- His Excellency Don Juan Valentín de Todos los Santos Urdangarín y de Borbón Grandee of Spain (born September 29, 1999)
- His Excellency Don Pablo Nicolás Sebastián de Todos los Santos Urdangarín y de Borbón Grandee of Spain (born December 6, 2000)
- His Excellency Don Miguel de Todos los Santos Urdangarín y de Borbón Grandee of Spain (born April 30, 2002)
- Her Excellency Doña Irene de Todos los Santos Urdangarin y de Borbón Grandee of Spain (born June 5, 2005)
They live in Barcelona, where the Infanta Cristina is in charge of the international cooperation program at the La Caixa Foundation.
[edit] Activities in Spain and abroad
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She carries out many institutional, cultural, academic and welfare activities in Spain and abroad, especially in European and Latin American countries.
As Honorary President of the Spanish Committee of UNESCO, she has maintained her links with this international organisation and with several of its projects, especially educational ones, with the focus on activities to protect the natural and artistic heritage. In October 2001, she was appointed Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations for the 2nd World Assembly on Ageing. She is also a member of the Dali Foundation Board of Trustees.
She supports a number of welfare bodies and participates personally in courses on adapted sailing for the handicapped. She is the President of the International Foundation for Disabled Sailing.
She's also been a member of the Bilderberg group since 2001, with her mother Queen Sofia of Spain and her father Juan Carlos I, King of Spain.
[edit] Sports and participation in the Olympics
She practises a number of sports including skiing, but her favourite is sailing. She has taken part in many national and international events and was a member of the Spanish Olympic sailing team at the Seoul Games in 1988 where she was standard bearer in the opening parade.
[edit] References
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Her Royal Highness the Infanta Cristina (Official profile) (Spanish)
- Royal Household of HM the King official website (English) (Spanish)
| Preceded by HE Victoria Federica |
Line of succession to the Spanish Throne | Succeeded by HE Juan Valentín |
