A Spanish court ruled Wednesday that Princess Cristina, the sister of Spain's new king, Felipe, will be charged in a corruption probe against her husband, Iñaki Urdangarin. 

Judge Jose Castro recommended that Cristina, 48, remain a suspect in the case, which has been ongoing for four years, according to The Wall Street Journal. She will be a suspect along with her husband, who is a former Olympic handball player, along with a number of others. The princess and her husband have pleaded not guilty. 

However, Judge Castro believes that the princess knows more than she is revealing regarding the allegedly corrupt dealings of her husband. 

"The crimes against the public purse that Inaki Urdangarin allegedly committed against the public purse would have been hard to commit without at least the knowledge and acquiescence of his wife," he said, according to BBC News. 

All of the suspects in the case will now be able to file appeals, and if a local court rejects the appeals, prosecutors will be able to formally charge the subjects. A date will then be set for the trial. 

The case marks the first time a close relative of a Spanish monarch has been implicated for a crime. If the princess is charged, she could face up to 10 years in prison, according to BBC News. 

The corruption charges, which include tax fraud and money laundering, have incited censure of the monarchy and a backlash against the Spanish royal family. 

The opposition to the monarchy was one of the factors that prompted King Juan Carlos to abdicate the throne and allow his son, Felipe, to become king. King Felipe VI was crowned six days ago, shortly after his father stepped down. 

Princess Cristina was absent from Felipe's coronation. 

Neither King Felipe nor his father were implicated in the case, and both have distanced themselves from Princess Cristina and her husband, as the case is seen as a major source of embarrassment for the royal family. 

Urdangarin, who is the Duke of Palma, and Cristina are being charged with embezzlement, as Urdangarin is charged with embezzling millions in public funds with former business associate Diego Torres. 

Urdangarin and Torres allegedly received 5.6 million euros ($7.5 million) by overcharging regional governments for organizing sporting events for Noos, an ostensibly non-profit organization. 

The money that was supposed to be for Noos was allegedly put into a company called Aizoon, which the duke set up with the princess. The funds were allegedly used to pay for the couple's luxurious lifestyle, including a mansion in Barcelona, lavish trips and dance lessons. 

Princess Cristina, who is co-owner of Aizoon, is suspected of helping her husband wirth the money laundering and fraud, even though she told the judge in February that she had no knowledge of the illegal activities. 

Anti-corruption prosecutors do not agree that Cristina should be named as a suspect, citing insufficient evidence. 

BBC News reports that Prosecutor Pedro Horrach said "there is still no piece [of evidence] against" the princess. 

Prosecutors and defendants will bring their evidence forward in coming days, and Judge Castro will decide what charges will be recommended. 

The provincial court at Palma de Mallorca will make the final decision on whether or not she should stand trial.