King To Abdicate (With Updates)

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced this morning that King Juan Carlos, who has been Spain’s Head of State for 39 years and helped restore Democracy to the country, will abdicate.

Don Juan Carlos had talked down the possibility of abdicating in recent years, but now says he made his decision during his 76th birthday earlier this year.

The King said in a message to the nation it was important to recognize the influence of “a younger generation, with new energies.” He said Prince Felipe, who will soon be proclaimed King, represents “stability.”

The King’s abdication is the latest in a string of European Monarchs stepping down. But it also comes amid ongoing economic and political troubles.

King Juan Carlos speaking at Zarzuela Palace.

Prince Felipe, and his wife Letizia, the soon-to-be Queen Consort, will have to promote Spanish unity amid pro-independence rumblings in Catalonia and the Basque Country.

Prince Felipe will be proclaimed (not crowned) King soon. The action has to be ratified by the Cortes as the Constitution requires for abdications.

Spain's future King and Queen. — Spain’s future King and Queen.

Updates

-King Juan Carlos’ abdication announcement drew praise for the Monarch’s work from conservative Popular Party and Socialist Party leaders. United Left, however, called for a referendum on the Monarchy.

-Catalan President Artur Mas said change at the top of Spanish politics would not stop his push for a referendum on independence.

-Several thousand people hit the streets in Madrid and Barcelona to call for a referendum on whether to keep the Monarchy.

-The Spanish government will introduce legislation this week to begin the process of ratifying the abdication and welcoming Prince Felipe as the new King. Debate will follow in the Cortes.

-Prince Felipe’s proclamation as King could begin, media reports indicate, as soon as the 16th of this month.

-Details remain to be worked out, including the future legal standing of Don Juan Carlos, who is currently considered “inviolable.”

-The Royal Household released a timeline with images of important events in the future King’s life, including swearing allegiance to the Constitution in 1986.

King Meets With Sarkozy, Cheers Real Madrid

King Juan Carlos today met with former French President Nicolas Sarkozy at Zarzuela Palace.

Don Juan Carlos is friends with Sarkozy and recently awarded him the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

The King, who has significantly boosted his public appearances, was in Lisbon this weekend with Queen Sofia attending the UEFA Champions League 2014 final game between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.

20140524 final champions 01 — Their Majesties with European and Portuguese officials.

Among recent events by members of the Royal Family, Princess Letizia attended a childhood cancer symposium in Seville.

Princess Letizia Celebrates Anniversary

Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia last week celebrated their ten year anniversary.

The Royal Household released pictures of the couple getting their daughters — Infanta Leonor and Infanta Sofia — getting ready for school.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

The Royal Household also released a series of statistics about Their Royal Highnessess as Prince and Princess of Asturias, and heirs to the Spanish throne.

The Prince and Princess of Asturias on a museum visit in Toledo. © Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos — The Prince and Princess of Asturias on a museum visit in Toledo.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

The couple has made more than 70 foreign trips to 38 countries. They have hosted more than 1,500 official events together, with Princess Letizia hosting 190 by herself.

The Prince and Princess have also received more than 7,000 people together during audiences.

Royal Household Goes on Twitter

The Spanish Royal Household has joined Twitter, officials announced today, under the account @CasaReal.

20140521_twitter_1 — The Royal Household’s Twitter page features the King’s Coat of Arms and a picture of Zarzuela Palace.

Joining Twitter follows a website upgrade and getting a YouTube account, among other web and social media offerings.

Royals Court Catalonia, Basque Country

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia were in Barcelona today handing out Royal Dispatches to new judges.

Their very presence in Barcelona was of note because of the ongoing debate in Catalonia about independence.

The King, who recently returned from Saudi Arabia, greeted Catalan President Artur Mas cordially, even though Mas has been pushing for a referendum on independence.

During his remarks, King Juan Carlos touted “democratic coexistence, social peace and justice.” He also stressed the importance of Constitutional principles and rights.

Yesterday the King visited the Basque Country, another autonomous community known for pro-independence and republican rumblings.

Earlier this week Prince Felipe visited Bilbao, the Basque Country’s largest city, to preside over an awards ceremony.

Spanish media reported a small Basque nationalist demonstration against the Royal Family and in favor of self determination.

Spain’s central government has resisted regional referendums on independence, calling them unconstitutional.

Separately, this week tax authorities accused the King’s son-in-law Iñaki Urdangarin, the Duke of Palma, of tax crimes.

Urdangarin has for years been under investigation for allegations that he used public money for personal gain.

Prince Felipe In Costa Rica

Prince Felipe was in Costa Rica earlier this week attending the sweating-in of that country’s new President Luis Guillermo Solís.

Don Felipe also met other world leaders who attended the ceremonies, and also with local Spaniards.

The Prince of Asturias is the Spain’s official representative to swearing-in ceremonies in Latin America pursuant to a 1996 Spanish Royal Decree.

The idea is to make Spain’s future king closer to the leaders of former Spanish colonies and the wider Ibero-American world.

King Juan Carlos has made a similar push with Arab World monarchies, in an attempt to improve Spain’s economic position. His last stop was in Bahrain.

King Juan Carlos with King Sheikh Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa.

Don Juan Carlos is also scheduled to make trips to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

King, Queen Meet With Pope Francis

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia arrived in Rome over the weekend to attend the canonization of former popes John XXIII and John Paul II.

The King and Queen assisted the Vatican City ceremony along with leaders from around the world, and then met with Pope Francis separately.

King Juan Carlos also met with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano while in Rome.

Back in Madrid, the King swore in Spain’s new Agriculture Minister in a ceremony at Zarzuela Palace.

His Majesty is now on another visit to the Middle East, this time Oman and Bahrain.

King Juan Carlos greets Sultan Qaboos Bin Said.

Queen Sofia, meanwhile, spoke at Oxford University on Tuesday for the 700th anniversary of Exeter College.

King Meets With Correa

King Juan Carlos met with Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa at Zarzuela Palace this week.

Correa was in Spain to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Barcelona.

The Spanish Royal Family makes it a point to maintain good relations with Latin American leaders.

Earlier this week, as expected, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia awarded the Cervantes prize to Elena Poniatowska.

King Juan Carlos this week also attended a soccer game between Real Madrid and FC Bayern Munchen.

Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia went to another game between Atlético Madrid and Chelsea.

Royals Honor Writer, Celebrate Easter

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, and Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia hosted a lunch for Mexican writer Elena Poniatowska, 2013 winner of the Cervantes prize for literature in Spanish.

2040422_Almuerzo Cervantes_01 — The King and Queen welcoming Poniatowska. © Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Members of the Royal Family are also expected to attend the upcoming awards ceremony at the University of Alcalá de Henares, birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra.

Over the weekend members of the Royal Family, also including Infanta Elena, attended Eastern Mass in Palma de Mallorca.

The Mallorca mass is a Spanish Royal Family tradition. Media outlets reportes that Queen Sofia spent a few days on the island around Eastern.

Flight Problem Delays King

Another airplane malfunction — the fifth in recent months for Spanish VIP jets — delayed King Juan Carlos’ return from the Middle East.

Kuwaiti authorities offered the King one of their jets, but ended up not needing it.

His Majesty was able to be in Spain in time for the final of the King’s Cup in Valencia between Real Madrid and Barcelona.