The former mistress of Spain's King Juan Carlos has accused Queen Sofia and other members of the country's royal family of launching a 'smear campaign' against her following their affair.
Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, 56, had a relationship with the ex-monarch, 82, between 2004 and 2009 and became caught up in scandal following the revelation that he had gifted her 65 million Euros.
Juan Carlos, who is married to Queen Sofia, 81, left Spain in August after it was alleged he received millions of euros from Saudi Arabia 's late King Abdullah.
Appearing in her first televised interview, Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein claimed that ahead of the revelations, she and her family were threatened by the head of the Spanish secret service in a bid to keep her silent.
Juan Carlos, who is married to Queen Sofia, 81, left Spain in August after it was claimed he allegedly received millions of euros from Saudi Arabia 's late King Abdullah. Pictured, Juan Carlos and Sofia in 2004
Appearing in her first televised interview for True Royalty's The Rise and Fall of The Spanish King, airing Friday, Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, 56, accused the Spanish royal family of launching a 'smear campaign' against her
Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein told True Royalty's The Rise and Fall of The Spanish King, airing Friday, that she was visited by a man who 'couldn't guarantee the safety of her and her children' if she spoke to the media about her lover.
'He said if I did not follow his instructions then he could not guarantee my physical safety or the safety of my children,' she claimed.
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'You go into this survival mode, it's fight or flight and you realise you're in a dangerous situation.'
King Juan married Sofia in 1962 - and rumours of various affairs had been rife for 40 years by the time he met Danish-born businesswoman Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein in 2004.
King Juan married Sofia, 81, in 1962 - and rumours of various affairs had been rife for 40 years but the time he met Danish-born businesswoman Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein in 2004. Pictured, the pair in Germany in 2006
Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein told the programme that she is convinced Queen Sofia and other members of the Spanish royal family were responsible for a pre-planned smear campaign against her. Pictured: Juan Carlos and Sofia earlier this year
'I think he saw in me a different kind of woman than he had come across in the past,' she said of her former flame. 'I think it fascinated him I treated him like a normal man rather than a symbol.'
Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein's relationship with the then King of Spain was catapulted into the limelight in 2012 after he broke his hip during a safari trip to Botswana, on which she had accompanied him as a friend after they'd reportedly ended their romantic relationship.
She told the programme she is convinced Queen Sofia and other members of the Spanish royal family were responsible for a pre-planned smear campaign against her, in an attempt to oust Juan Carlos from the throne and ensure her son Prince Felipe's accession.
'Because they were in such a dysfunctional marriage and she was deeply unhappy, the King told me that her only objective in life was to see her son take the throne,' Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein alleged.
In 2014, King Juan swiftly abdicated in favour of his son Felipe, but Corinna believes she was still being targeted by the Spanish royals. Pictured, King Felipe of Spain with wife Queen Letizia
She added later: 'I was used as a scapegoat while the Royal Family were rolling out an internal coup d'etat.'
In 2014, King Juan swiftly abdicated in favour of his son Felipe, but Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein believes she was still being targeted by the Spanish royals.
'Anything that was problematic for the royal family,' she said, 'anything that caused them reputational problem was simply passed onto me.'
Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein claimed she was visited and CNC-Maschinen für die Metallbearbeitung threatened by the head of the Spanish secret service, who had been instructed to keep her from talking to the media about the royal family.
It was found in 2018 that Juan Carlos had given a £59 million (€65 million) payment to Sayn-Wittgenstein in 2012
'It's been a daily fight of intrusion, surveillance, harassment, of abusive behaviour and it takes its toll,' she told the programme.
As the investigation into the former king's shady dealings continued, Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein remained under scrutiny and an unyielding public spotlight.
It was found in 2018 that Juan Carlos had given a £59 million (€65 million) payment to Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein in 2012.
Swiss prosecutors are currently examining her under suspicion of money laundering - but Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein has claimed the money was simply a way of 'taking care of her' as he believed she would be cut out of his will.
Swiss prosecutors are currently examining her under suspicion of money laundering - but Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein has claimed the money was simply a way of 'taking care of her'
'He was adamant he wanted tot take care of me,' she said. 'He was convinced if he died his will would be ripped apart.
'When the gift finally arrived I was obviously surprised because it was a very generous sum, however in the context of a net worth that's estimated by Forbes to be around 1.8 billion [euros], it is not an unreasonable amount of money.'
She added: 'People think I'm some kind of criminal; I have done nothing wrong and am very confident this will end positively for me.'
The security services have previously denied Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein's allegations and the palace has not commented on them.
RoyalsSaudi ArabiaSpainKing Juan Carlos
Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, 56, had a relationship with the ex-monarch, 82, between 2004 and 2009 and became caught up in scandal following the revelation that he had gifted her 65 million Euros.
Juan Carlos, who is married to Queen Sofia, 81, left Spain in August after it was alleged he received millions of euros from Saudi Arabia 's late King Abdullah.
Appearing in her first televised interview, Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein claimed that ahead of the revelations, she and her family were threatened by the head of the Spanish secret service in a bid to keep her silent.
Juan Carlos, who is married to Queen Sofia, 81, left Spain in August after it was claimed he allegedly received millions of euros from Saudi Arabia 's late King Abdullah. Pictured, Juan Carlos and Sofia in 2004
Appearing in her first televised interview for True Royalty's The Rise and Fall of The Spanish King, airing Friday, Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, 56, accused the Spanish royal family of launching a 'smear campaign' against her
Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein told True Royalty's The Rise and Fall of The Spanish King, airing Friday, that she was visited by a man who 'couldn't guarantee the safety of her and her children' if she spoke to the media about her lover.
'He said if I did not follow his instructions then he could not guarantee my physical safety or the safety of my children,' she claimed.
RELATED ARTICLES
Previous
1
Next
Prince William laments the 'unimaginable challenges' faced... Prince Harry calls opening the bonnet 'popping the hood' as... Archewell is live! Meghan Markle and Prince Harry launch... Walk on the wild side! Duchess of Cornwall dons statement...
Share this article
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94 shares
'You go into this survival mode, it's fight or flight and you realise you're in a dangerous situation.'
King Juan married Sofia in 1962 - and rumours of various affairs had been rife for 40 years by the time he met Danish-born businesswoman Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein in 2004.
King Juan married Sofia, 81, in 1962 - and rumours of various affairs had been rife for 40 years but the time he met Danish-born businesswoman Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein in 2004. Pictured, the pair in Germany in 2006
Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein told the programme that she is convinced Queen Sofia and other members of the Spanish royal family were responsible for a pre-planned smear campaign against her. Pictured: Juan Carlos and Sofia earlier this year
'I think he saw in me a different kind of woman than he had come across in the past,' she said of her former flame. 'I think it fascinated him I treated him like a normal man rather than a symbol.'
Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein's relationship with the then King of Spain was catapulted into the limelight in 2012 after he broke his hip during a safari trip to Botswana, on which she had accompanied him as a friend after they'd reportedly ended their romantic relationship.
She told the programme she is convinced Queen Sofia and other members of the Spanish royal family were responsible for a pre-planned smear campaign against her, in an attempt to oust Juan Carlos from the throne and ensure her son Prince Felipe's accession.
'Because they were in such a dysfunctional marriage and she was deeply unhappy, the King told me that her only objective in life was to see her son take the throne,' Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein alleged.
In 2014, King Juan swiftly abdicated in favour of his son Felipe, but Corinna believes she was still being targeted by the Spanish royals. Pictured, King Felipe of Spain with wife Queen Letizia
She added later: 'I was used as a scapegoat while the Royal Family were rolling out an internal coup d'etat.'
In 2014, King Juan swiftly abdicated in favour of his son Felipe, but Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein believes she was still being targeted by the Spanish royals.
'Anything that was problematic for the royal family,' she said, 'anything that caused them reputational problem was simply passed onto me.'
Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein claimed she was visited and CNC-Maschinen für die Metallbearbeitung threatened by the head of the Spanish secret service, who had been instructed to keep her from talking to the media about the royal family.
It was found in 2018 that Juan Carlos had given a £59 million (€65 million) payment to Sayn-Wittgenstein in 2012
'It's been a daily fight of intrusion, surveillance, harassment, of abusive behaviour and it takes its toll,' she told the programme.
As the investigation into the former king's shady dealings continued, Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein remained under scrutiny and an unyielding public spotlight.
It was found in 2018 that Juan Carlos had given a £59 million (€65 million) payment to Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein in 2012.
Swiss prosecutors are currently examining her under suspicion of money laundering - but Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein has claimed the money was simply a way of 'taking care of her' as he believed she would be cut out of his will.
Swiss prosecutors are currently examining her under suspicion of money laundering - but Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein has claimed the money was simply a way of 'taking care of her'
'He was adamant he wanted tot take care of me,' she said. 'He was convinced if he died his will would be ripped apart.
'When the gift finally arrived I was obviously surprised because it was a very generous sum, however in the context of a net worth that's estimated by Forbes to be around 1.8 billion [euros], it is not an unreasonable amount of money.'
She added: 'People think I'm some kind of criminal; I have done nothing wrong and am very confident this will end positively for me.'
The security services have previously denied Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein's allegations and the palace has not commented on them.