Princess Cristina and her husband arrived at court Monday
for the start of an historic trial that marks the first time a member of
Spain's royal family has faced criminal charges since the monarchy was restored
in 1975.
The 50-year-old Cristina is accused of two counts of tax
fraud carrying a maximum prison sentence of eight years for allegedly failing
to declare taxes on personal expenses paid by a real estate company she owned
with her husband.
She will sit in the dock with 17 others including her
husband, Olympic handball medalist turned businessman Inaki Urdangarin.
He faces more serious charges of using his Duke of Palma
title to embezzle about 6 million euros ($6.5 million) in public contracts
through the nonprofit Noos Institute he ran with an associate.
The princess said nothing to dozens of reporters after
arriving at a makeshift courtroom in Palma de Mallorca where the trial is being
held.
Security was tight around the building after thousands of
anti-monarchy protesters in 2014 staged noisy demonstrations while Cristina
answered questions about the case posed by a investigative judge.
Authorities Monday morning detained one protester with an
anti-monarchy flag a short time before Cristina showed up at the court inside a
sedan with dark tinted windows.
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