Danish businesswoman Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, who’s in her late 50s and has houses in England, sued Juan Carlos, 85, who abdicated in 2014.
She alleged the previous monarch brought about her “nice psychological ache” by spying on and harassing her, claiming greater than £126 million in damages, the Excessive Courtroom in London beforehand heard.
Juan Carlos denied wrongdoing and disputed the claims made in opposition to him, arguing the declare was not “viable” and that the English courtroom didn’t have jurisdiction for the case.
In a judgment on Friday, Mrs Justice Collins Rice agreed and mentioned: “The Excessive Courtroom of England and Wales lacks jurisdiction to do that declare.
“That’s as a result of it has not been introduced in opposition to the defendant in his nation of domicile, as is his default entitlement; and the claimant has not happy me she has a great debatable case that her declare falls inside an exception to that default rule.”
She continued: “The claimant has an account she needs to present of her private and monetary historical past with the defendant, and concerning the hurt he has brought about her peace of thoughts and private wellbeing, and her enterprise, social and household life.
“I take no view about that account as such. The one query for me has been whether or not the claimant can compel the defendant to present his facet of the story to the Excessive Courtroom. My conclusion, as issues stand, is that she can not.”
Juan Carlos welcomed the choice, which a spokesperson mentioned “unsurprisingly confirms his innocence”.
The previous king’s spokesperson mentioned in a press release: “Right this moment’s determination, beneficial to His Majesty, re-establishes the situations essential for additional public appearances.”
Throughout a four-day-hearing in July, Adam Wolanski KC, for the previous monarch, requested the decide to “strike out” Ms zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn’s declare.
He mentioned: “The pleaded case of harassment is a diffuse assortment of complaints, some trivial, principally historic.”
The barrister mentioned Juan Carlos “emphatically denies ever having harassed the claimant”.
Legal professionals representing Ms zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn mentioned the bid to finish the case was “misconceived” and needs to be refused.
“The suggestion made on behalf of the defendant that the declare is one way or the other abusive in that it’s by itself designed to harass a susceptible aged statesman is each unfounded and daring,” mentioned barrister Jonathan Caplan KC, for Ms zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn.
Plenty of different judges have overseen earlier hearings within the litigation.
Judges have been instructed that Juan Carlos dominated from 1975 till his abdication in 2014 and the succession of his son, King Felipe VI.
They’ve heard that Ms zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn is Danish, lived in Monaco between 2008 and 2019, and has houses in London and Shropshire.
Beforehand one other Excessive Courtroom decide – Mr Justice Nicklin – had dominated that claims may very well be thought of at a trial in England.
Nevertheless, Courtroom of Enchantment judges in London later concluded that “the pre-abdication conduct alleged” was “immune from the jurisdiction of the courts of this nation”, and ended these components of the declare.
Following Friday’s judgment, Ms zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn mentioned she was “contemplating all choices” and was “deeply upset” by the result.
She continued: “It’s disheartening to see that victims of harassment typically battle to seek out justice in our authorized system.
“Harassment has a profound and lasting impression on people, and it’s essential that our authorized processes present satisfactory recourse for individuals who have suffered.”