The life expectancy of Royalty has grown longer, leading to older monarchs deciding to abdicate their thrones to their children. King Juan Carlos I of Spain plans to do so, the country’s prime minister announced Monday.
Juan Carlos, 76, has been dealing with health issues in recent years and has also seen a decline in popularity, particularly due to the corruption investigation centering on Princess Christina and her husband. He was also widely criticised himself for a 2012 trip to Africa that included elephant hunting during the country’s financial crisis.
According to the New York Times, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced that he received a letter of abdication from Juan Carlos during a televised speech. Rajoy called the King “a tireless defender of our interests.” The immediate reasons for the decision were not announced, but Juan Carlos is expected to make a speech himself later Monday.
As The BBC points out, Spain doesn’t have laws spelling out the abdication process, but lawmakers plan on meeting to discuss how Crown Prince Felipe, 46, will take over from his father.
Juan Carlos became King in 1975 after Gen. Francisco Franco died. His tenure got off to a strong start as he oversaw the country’s transition to democracy.
This is the second abdication in Europe in as many years. Last year, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands abdicated the throne to her son, Willem-Alexander.
In the U.K., Queen Elizabeth II, 86, is giving Prince Charles, 65, more responsibilities, but there is not a tradition of abdication there.
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