World

Spain's Princess Cristina facing serious charges

/ CBS/AP

MADRID -- A Spanish judge has ordered the king's sister, Princess Cristina, to be tried along with her husband on charges of tax fraud, the first member of the country's royal family to go to court since the royalty was restored in 1975.

Judge Jose Castro in a ruling issued Monday went against a recommendation issued Dec. 9 by a prosecutor proposing fines for Cristina and a trial only for her husband, Olympic handball-medalist-turned-businessman Inaki Urdangarin.

Suspected abuse of company funds to cover the couple's expenses at their Barcelona home is among evidence Castro has compiled about Aizoon, a real estate and consulting firm Cristina co-owned with Urdangarin.

Cristina and Urdangarin have both denied any wrongdoing, reports the Reuters news agency.

The legal troubles of King Felipe VI's sister during a four-year probe have damaged the Spanish monarchy's image.

Cristina's father, Juan Carlos, abdicated in June after a number of scandals, Reuters adds.

First published on December 22, 2014 / 6:13 AM EST

© 2014 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.