Lawyers for Spanish princess file appeal against indictment on tax fraud charges

Lawyers for Spain's Princess Cristina have lodged an appeal against a judge's decision to try her on charges of tax fraud.

Cristina, 49, was indicted Dec. 22 as part of a four-year investigation into her husband, Inaki Urdangarin, who faces charges ranging from money laundering to fraud.

She is the first member of the Spanish royal family ordered to stand trial since the monarchy was restored in 1975.

A court in Palma de Mallorca said the appeal was lodged Friday. The trial, if held, is not expected to take place before late this year.

The indictment was seen as a blow to efforts by her brother King Felipe VI to purge the royal family of image problems after his scandal-plagued father abdicated six months ago.