Princess Cristina, the sister of Spain’s king, appeared in court as her trial on fraud charges began on Monday. She is the first member of the country’s royal family to stand trial.
The princess is accused of complicity in an embezzlement case in which her husband and 16 other defendants are also charged. All deny the allegations. Cristina, 50, could face eight years in prison if convicted by the three-judge panel.
The trial in Palma is an embarrassment for the royal family. It is the first time King Felipe’s sister has faced criminal charges since the monarchy was restored in the 1970s. Millions of people across Spain are following the trial.
The sports organization run by her husband, the Noos Institute, was allegedly used to profit from large fraudulent contracts with local public authorities. Money was then transferred to private accounts that could be used to evade tax. Public funds paid to the organization are estimated at about €5.6 million.
Cristina was a member of the institute’s board. She and her husband also own a property company called Aizoon, which Spanish prosecutors say was used to launder the embezzled money.