King Juan Carlos turns 75 tomorrow and in commemoration Spanish Television is airing an exclusive interview with the Monarch this evening.
While he often answers questions from the press at public events, the sit-down chat is the King’s first in more than a decade.
The interview is also an effort to restore the Monarchy’s reputation among many Spaniards, especially in communities like Catalonia and the Basque Country.
Basque politicians recently removed a picture of the King from a town hall. And a Catalonian community is removing his name from a roadway.
Beyond Republican and pro-independence tendencies, critics see the King as being too close to former dictator Franco.
Don Juan Carlos, however, was a main force behind the transition to democracy in the 1970’s and 80’s.
UPDATE: The Spanish Royal Mint is releasing a coin to mark the King’s 75 years.
LOS BORBONES 