Visits to the Mediterranean island of Mallorca for Spain's Princess Cristina used to mean luxurious stays at the seaside Marivent Palace - but the sister of King Felipe VI won't get anywhere near the royal family's official summer residence in a trip this week.

Instead, the 50-year-old princess and her husband are set to face anti-monarchy protesters and hordes of media on Monday as they enter a makeshift courtroom and she makes history in front of millions of Spanish TV viewers as the first royal family member to face criminal charges since the monarchy was restored in 1975.

Following the tax fraud trial expected to last six months, the princess could face up to eight years in prison if a three-member panel of judges agrees the couple abused a real estate consulting firm described in court papers as a "front company" to bankroll a lavish lifestyle, including parties at their modernist Barcelona mansion, salsa dancing classes and holidays at expensive hotels.

Cristina and her husband, Olympic handball medallist turned businessman Inaki Urdangarin, will sit in the dock alongside 16 others in the case centring on allegations Mr Urdangarin used his Duke of Palma title to embezzle about £4.5 million in public contracts through the Noos Institute. It was the non-profit foundation he set up with a business partner to broker seminars and sports events as a tourism lure.