This afternoon, King Juan Carlos received the Prix Saint-Simon in the auditorium of the Richardière farm, in La Ferté-Vidame, a small rural municipality southwest of Paris. It is about a literary award that has been awarded to him for “Reconciliation” (Planeta), the memoirs that he published in Spain at the end of 2025 and they have been a bestseller. His work won by a large majority of votes in the jury’s deliberation, beating other notable finalists such as the thinker and philosopher Régis Debray – curiously, father of the book’s own co-author, Laurence Debray, a close friend of the monarch – and the American artist Patti Smith. With this ruling, the jury chaired by Marc Lambron highlights the historical value, institutional memory and literary quality of the work, a recognition that places it as an outstanding editorial and memorial phenomenon in France.
It is not the first time that the father of King Felipe VI receives an award in France for “Reconciliation”. Last April he was also awarded the Special Jury Prize for Political Books at the French National Assembly.awarded by the Lire la Société association.
This afternoon, Don Juan Carlos I has been accompanied in such a special moment by his daughter, Infanta Elena, and two of his granddaughters, Victoria Federica de Marichalar and Irene Urdangarin. The three wanted to show their support on an important day in which pride in their legacy has been evident in every gesture and look of admiration.
Without a doubt, the presentation of the award this afternoon in France has been the perfect finishing touch to a series of very emotional days for Don Juan Carlos I, marked by reunions with family and friends in Spain. The former head of state landed in Peinador, in Vigo, this Wednesday shortly after noon, on a private flight from Cascais airportin Portugal, as he did the last few times he traveled to Galicia. On this occasion, his visit was part of the XI Rey Juan Carlos I-El Corte Inglés Master International Regatta, which was held from September 18 to 20 in the Pontevedra estuary.
Dinner at sea
Beyond the competition, King Juan Carlos I was able to enjoy the company of close friends and family in Sanxenxolike Infanta Elena, who usually comes to Galicia every time her father arrives to visit, as well as Infanta Pilar, her daughter María Zurita and her little son, Carlitos, for whom the monarch has immense affection. Everyone, along with other friends and close friends of Don Juan Carlos, enjoyed a dinner on the high seas on Friday, aboard a bateeiro boat adapted for agapes.
Already on Saturday, Infanta Elena and her father took the opportunity to sail together one last timebefore the King took a flight around 7:00 p.m. to head to Paris and receive his literary prize there. Without a doubt, a week in style for him.
An award originating from a Great of Spain