9 Feb 2014

Spanish princess quizzed in court

4:01 pm on 9 February 2014

Spain's Princess Cristina has been questioned in court in connection with a corruption scandal involving her husband's business dealings.

Princess Cristina leaving the courthouse.

Princess Cristina leaving the courthouse. Photo: AFP

It was the first time in history that a member of Spain's royal family has appeared in court as the subject of a criminal investigation.

Her husband Inaki Urdangarin is alleged to have defrauded regional governments of millions of euros of public money.

The BBC reports that the princess and her husband deny any wrongdoing, and have not been charged.

Princess Cristina, 48, stepped from her car and walked into the court on the island of Mallorca without commenting to the waiting television crews.

King Juan Carlos's youngest daughter then faced a judge to answer questions relating to alleged fraud and money-laundering.

The proceedings were closed to journalists, but Manuel Delgado, one of the lawyers involved in the case, said the princess appeared calm and well-prepared.

The allegations relate to a supposedly not-for-profit organisation called Noos, of which Inaki Urdangarin was president.

The foundation staged a series of sporting events for the regional governments of the Balearic Islands and Valencia.

Mr Urdangarin is accused of organising the events at hugely inflated prices.

With a former business partner, he is alleged to have received a total of 5.6 million euros in public money.

Princess Cristina is suspected of spending some of that money on personal expenses.

There are also questions about what Princess Cristina knew about the alleged wrongdoing of her husband. Her lawyer has said she is innocent.