Spain’s Princess, husband on trial in graft case

Spain’s Princess Cristina and her husband went on trial on Monday under intense global media scrutiny in a landmark corruption case that has outraged the country and sullied the monarchy’s reputation.

Cristina, a 50-year-old mother-of-four with a master’s degree from New York University, is the first Spanish royal to face criminal charges in court since the monarchy was reinstated following the 1975 death of dictator General Francisco Franco. The trial of the princess and the 17 other accused, including her husband, former Olympic handball medallist Inaki Urdangarin got underway at 9:20 am (0815 GMT) at a makeshift courtroom in Palma on the palm-lined Mediterranean island of Mallorca, where the Spanish royals have a holiday home.

The royal couple arrived together an hour ahead of the start of legal proceedings, walking briskly into the building as photographers snapped pictures. But following courtroom rules, they had to sit apart as judges read out the alleged crimes committed by the suspects.