Smiling and waving to waiting well wishers, Elena of Spain looks relieved to be finally taking her 13-year-old son home from hospital. Felipe Juan Froilan – the eldest grandson of King Juan Carlos – was being treated at the Madrid facility after accidentally shooting himself in the foot.
Froilan, as he's known by the local media, was taking part in target practice on his family estate when his 36-calibre shotgun went off. He was enjoying time with his father, Jaime de Marichalar – now divorced from Elena – when the incident occurred. A statement released by the palace said that the teenager "will continue to receive care and undergo rehabilitation at home". Spanish authorities are investigating the accident as children under the age of 14 are not allowed to handle firearms.
Felipe Juan's recovery will bring some good news to the family, who have been beset by problems in recent weeks. The king is also in hospital after falling and breaking his hip during a private hunting trip in Botswana that has been the subject of headlines for the past few days. His holiday was supposed to provide a much needed break amid the on-going corruption investigation into the business practices of his son-in-law Inaki Urdangarin – the husband of his other daughter Cristina.
The controversy has placed a great strain on the royals and most probably led to the recent decision to release details of senior royals’ finances for the first time since 1979.
