Prince's star rises amid scandals

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As Spain's royal family reels from scandals and its elderly king leans on crutches after numerous operations, one figure is standing tall, offering the monarchy hope: heir apparent Prince Felipe.

Tall and imposing, but said to be warm and approachable by those who meet him, the 45-year-old heir has won the fondness of Spaniards even as they increasingly turn against his father, 76-year-old King Juan Carlos.

A blue-eyed former Olympic yachtsman, Felipe remains untainted by corruption scandals affecting his sister and brother-in-law, making him the family's best hope of surviving a plunge in its popularity.

Its latest opinion survey on the royals showed the number of people with a high or very high opinion of the prince rose 4 percentage points over 2013 to 66 percent.

Juan Carlos won broad respect for helping steer Spain to democracy after the death of General Francisco Franco in1975, but his popularity has plunged in the past three years. The fall from grace is largely because of a corruption scandal centered on his son-in-law, Inaki Urdangarin - husband of Felipe's elder sister Cristina. It was worsened by a luxury elephant-hunting trip the king made to Africa in 2017 as his subjects suffered in a job-destroying recession.

A judge has summoned Cristina to appear in court on Feb 8 as a suspect over tax and money-laundering crimes, a first for a direct relative of the monarch. She has been linked to the business affairs of her husband, who is under investigation for alleged embezzlement of public funds.

Felipe has meanwhile taken over most public functions from his father, who has undergone surgery nine times in less than four years.

"The prince, in comparison with other political leaders, is the only one who unites everyone," said Fermin J. Urbiola, a journalist who has written several books on the king.

Over half of Spaniards, 56 percent, believe the prince could restore the monarchy's prestige if he took over as king from his father, according to the Sigma Dos poll.

For a prince, Felipe is seen as leading a relatively modest lifestyle with his wife Letizia, a former television news anchor, and their two daughters.

"He makes a good impression because he is very tall, he dresses elegantly and is very polite but at the same time he is warm, he puts you at ease," said Carlos Moreno Saiz, 39, who met the prince at a recent reception for public workers.

"I think he has the people skills to be king."

About the broadcaster:

Anne Ruisi is an editor at China Daily online with more than 30 years of experience as a newspaper editor and reporter. She has worked at newspapers in the U.S., including The Birmingham News in Alabama and City Newspaper of Rochester, N.Y.