Princess Cristina of Spain, Athlete Wed in Barcelona
Princess Cristina of Spain married Olympic handball star Inaki Urdangarin on Saturday in a glittering ceremony at a Gothic cathedral that was witnessed by royalty and a worldwide television audience of more than 1 billion.
The marriage of Urdangarin, 29, and Cristina, 32, the younger daughter of King Juan Carlos I, was carefully orchestrated to show off the position that the monarchy has carved out for itself in Spain, where the royals are widely admired for their modest, down-to-earth style.
The event also played on Spanish national unity, royalty watchers noted. Urdangarin is a Basque, and Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia--which, like the Basque region, is one of the most restive of 17 autonomous areas.
The newlyweds waved to the hundreds of thousands who lined the wedding route as they left the cathedral in a Rolls-Royce.
But not everyone was in a mood to celebrate. In central Barcelona, police in riot gear had to break up a demonstration against the monarchy by about 250 students.
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