Spanish royal releases statement on marriage after husband was pictured with another woman

 King Felipe  of Spain’s sister Infanta Cristina and her husband Iñaki Urdangarin are separating after 24 years of marriage. The pair announced the news in a statement saying (via  ¡HOLA! Spain  and translated to English), “By mutual agreement, we have decided to interrupt our marriage relationship. The commitment to our children remains intact.”

“Since it is a private decision, we ask for the utmost respect from all those around us. Cristina de Borbón and Iñaki Urdangarin”, they added.

Former King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia’s 56-year-old daughter married Iñaki in 1997. Cristina and Iñaki share four children: Juan Urdangarín y de Borbón, 22, Pablo Urdangarín y de Borbón, 21, Miguel Urdangarín y de Borbón, 19, and Irene Urdangarín y de Borbón, 16.

The duo’s statement comes days after  Lecturas  published photos of Iñaki holding hands with his co-worker   Ainhoa Armenti . The pictures reportedly did not catch Infanta Cristina by surprise. “She already knew it,” a source told  ¡HOLA! Spain .

When asked about the pictures last week, Iñaki replied: “Things happen and we will manage it in the best possible manner.” As for how his family took the news, the former handball player said, “Like a difficulty that we will manage with the utmost calm and together, as always.”