Irene Urdangarin begins a new stage in Oxford as a university student. Madrid was never an option. She lived with her grandmother, Queen Sofía, for two months—an opportunity to be together for so long, after years—and lives a very special relationship with Juan Urquijo, who is an agronomist and works near the capital, but wants independence and maintain a low profile and in Spain it is not easy to be away from the media spotlight.
© GLOSSIrene has ended her sabbatical year. Above, she is seen upon arrival in the United Kingdom, pushing her suitcase and giving a big hug to her brother Juan, who was waiting for them in London.
The daughter of Iñaki Urdangarin and Infanta Cristina follows in the footsteps of his brothers Juan and Miguelwho also made their careers in England. A country that he knows well and, in addition, he adds an extra: Juan, the oldest of the four, works in London, which means that they are less than 90 kilometers away and can see each other on weekends.
He starred in a very familiar landing in London and the most endearing farewell: laughter, hugs, walks hand in hand with his mother and a lot of love
© GLOSS © GLOSSIn these images, Infanta Cristina with her daughter, walking hand in hand and sharing confidences. They are both wearing jeans combined with a trench and a leather jacket.
Juan was waiting for them in London
On Monday, September 16, Irene ended her sabbatical year and began a new life away from home, being supported in her first steps by her mother, Infanta Cristina, who traveled with her; their brother Juan, who received them with hugs and the best smile, in London, and Juan Urquijo. She is enrolled in Hospitality, Event Management and Tourism at one of the best universities in the country and lives in a university residence, close to campus, with students from different backgrounds. It is a large home and students have a room with a study table, closet, shelves and bathroom, and they share spaces such as the kitchen and living room. Everyone has to make the purchase (when necessary) and organize shifts to clean. Hence, before ‘entering’ her new life, Irene went with the infanta to buy the kit of cleaning required, in addition to the necessary equipment: sheets, towels and basic kitchen utensils—from plates to cutlery—for personal use.
© GLOSS © GLOSS © GLOSS © GLOSSOn this important trip to her new life, Irene was surrounded by her mother; his brother Juan, who works in London, and Juan Urquijo, who lives in Madrid. On the terrace where they were, they left us some endearing images full of complicity. Among them, Irene’s farewell hugs to Juan and Doña Cristina, and the moment in which the infanta, her son and Juan Urquijo turned to say goodbye.
Very united
Mother and daughter, shopping together and very close, as seen in some of the photographs, in which they share confidences and walk hand in hand. Or having lunch on a terrace.
A moment that they enjoyed very much and in which they were seen laughing between jokes and saying goodbye with hugs, before continuing in different directions, although this weekend they will meet again in Greece, where they will attend Princess Teodora’s wedding.
Shortly afterwards, on the same Sunday afternoon (September 15), Irene attended the information conference at the university center in Oxford and got to know the facilities, while Juan Urquijo returned to Spain and the infanta I was traveling to Genevawhere she has been left alone, although, according to those around her, “without time to get bored, because she works and travels a lot”, and is enjoying a new stage in her life.
She is an infanta who is highly respected in her work and a mother whose children kiss her and who couldn’t be more proud. From Juan, the eldest, who works very hard to improve his conditions in Alejandro Agag’s company, where he has been working for more than a year. De Pablo, who combines his sports career with his studies in Sport Management, in Barcelona. From Miguel, who is staying a few more months working in Madrid… And, of course, from Irene, who is already on her way.
Before settling into the university residence, he enjoyed a very fun lunch with Infanta Cristina; Juan, her older brother, and Juan Urquijo, whom she has been dating for a year
© GLOSSIn the image, heading to the terrace where they had lunch together. © GLOSS
new friends
During this new course, the young Urdangarin will have the opportunity to explore another culture, make new friends and continue developing her independence, after living in Asia for five months. Since January, when she began working as a volunteer with Father Figaredo, in Cambodia, helping the poorest populations in the villages of Battambang, until the end of May, when she settled in Madrid to finish her education. the driving licensewhich he approved in July. A precious time in which she was also able to enjoy her relationship with Juan, youngest son of businessman Lucas Urquijo Fernández de Araoz and Beatriz Moreno de Borbón-Dos Sicilias, before heading to the summer and England. They love being together, but we’ll see what happens. They are going to live in different cities and they are very young: Juan turned 25 in January and Irene, the youngest of the Urdangarin Borbón siblings, celebrated the arrival of her 19th birthday on June 5.