Former King of Spain Juan Carlos I is not currently in New Zealand, according to Immigration NZ, despite speculation surrounding the Spanish royal's whereabouts.
Juan Carlos abruptly departed Spain last week under a cloud of corruption allegations, with reports of a financial scandal forcing the disgraced royal into self-imposed exile.
Over the weekend, a photo of Juan Carlos disembarking a private jet - published by Spanish media company NIUS - appeared to confirm multiple reports that the former King had travelled to Abu Dhabi after departing from Vigo, northwestern Spain, last Monday.
Yet an online report by Catalonia's leading daily newspaper, La Vanguardia, suggested that the former monarch had in fact continued his travels, claiming he may currently be in Auckland.
The outlet reports that the royal did not spend time in Abu Dhabi, instead making a stopover of "just a few hours to refuel".
"The flight continued with another stop at a point in Southeast Asia until it reached Auckland," a rough translation of the article reads.
The article referred to an alleged confession that if Juan Carlos ever were to leave Spain, his destination of choice would be New Zealand - "a sailor's paradise".
The writer said a number of Juan Carlos' "sailor friends" will be participating in the America's Cup next year, to be held in Auckland in March.
However, Immigration NZ has debunked La Vanguardia's theory. A spokesperson confirmed to Newshub that the agency has no record of Juan Carlos entering New Zealand.
The royal house published a letter, written by Juan Carlos to his son and incumbent King of Spain, Felipe VI, following the royal's sudden departure last week. The letter explained that Juan Carlos was leaving Spain due to "public repercussions of certain episodes of my past private life". Local media initially suggested the former monarch's bolthole was in Portugal or the Dominican Republic.
Juan Carlos reigned as King of Spain from 1975 until his abdication in 2014. The 82-year-old's self-exile followed allegations and investigations into instances of money laundering involving Saudi Arabia.
Felipe VI, 52, was crowned as the King of Spain in June 2014 following his father's abdication.
