Generational change in Spain: King Juan Carlos resigns after nearly forty years. Prince Felipe will follow his father to the throne. The royal family had last been shaken by numerous scandals.

The Spanish King Juan Carlos abdicates in favor of his son Felipe. This was announced by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. The 76-year-old monarch ascended the throne of Spain in November 1975, its popularity, however, had suffered greatly in the wake of several scandals in recent times.

The once beloved Juan Carlos, who had helped the country in the seventies after the Franco dictatorship in the transition to democracy, has recently come under pressure partly because images of elephant hunting.

The reason for the withdrawal was private, Rajoy said. Juan Carlos is plagued by health problems for months. Nevertheless, the decision Spain met completely by surprise – an abdication of the king had been rigorously excluded.

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