‘Disgraced former King of Spain was the victim of a ‘coup d’etat’ led by his estranged wife’

Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein (R) claims that she had been used as a scapegoat after her relationship with Juan Carlos (L) became public

Credit: Action Press / Rex Features

Juan Carlos, the disgraced former king of Spain, was the victim of a ‘coup d’etat’ led by his estranged wife to force him from the throne, his ex-lover has claimed.

Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein said Queen Sofia and members of the royal family conspired with the then prime minister Mariano Rajoy to force him to abdicate in 2014.

In an interview with the French magazine Paris Match, she said she had been used as a scapegoat after her relationship with Juan Carlos was deliberately leaked in 2012 to trigger the abdication process.

The king maintained a relationship with the 56-year-old London businesswoman between 2004 and 2009.

In 2012, the then monarch had to return to Spain after injuring himself during an elephant hunting safari in Botswana with Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein, which angered Spaniards who were struggling to get by during a deep recession.

She said that the king’s failing health led to members of his family and Mr Rajoy, who was prime minister between 2011 and 2018, to campaign for his abdication so that King Felipe VI could succeed to the throne.

Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein says Juan Carlos told her: “I have two fronts against me. The first is made up of my wife and her lieutenants: she is in a hurry to put her son on the throne because she has much more influence over him than me.

“The second is embodied by Mariano Rajoy, whose objective is to castrate me and weaken the monarchy.”

German-born Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein added: “The family was organising a coup d’etat and they needed a foreigner to serve as a scapegoat.”

In 2012, Juan Carlos transferred €65 million (£59.3 million) to Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein.   A Swiss court has placed the transfer under investigation for alleged money laundering. Ms Sayn-Wittgenstein denies wrongdoing.

Juan Carlos is also being investigated for the first time by Spain’s Supreme Court, which will examine if he committed alleged offences relating to the a €6.7 billion (£6.1 billion) rail deal in Saudi Arabia after abdicating.

Reigning monarchs cannot face legal action under the Spanish constitution.

Juan Carlos left Spain last month because of the scandal and is currently residing in Abu Dhabi.

The royal household declined to comment.

The Telegraph tried to contact a spokesman for Mr Rajoy without success.