King of Spain abdicates

King Juan Carlos of Spain, increasingly unpopular, has abdicated at 78. This was unexpected. Under the 1978 Constitution, both the abdication and the succession of Prince Felipe must be approved by the Spanish Parliament. The announcement led to large anti-monarchy, pro-republic protests in the streets. This is the second abdication in Europe this year after Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands followed tradition on turning 70 at the end of April and handed over to her son, Prince Willem-Alexander. On the subject of abdication, the Queen of the United Kingdom, also monarch of 15 other realms including Australia, commented “It’s not something that we do here”. Besides such a move would hardly revitalise the UK monarchy with the heir now nearly 70 in contrast to the new Spanish and Dutch Kings both of whom are in their mid 40s and considered good media fodder with fashionable, independent partners and, in the case of Holland, three new young princesses to add to the mix.  However, Queen Beatrix observed on abdicating that: “… hereditary authority of itself did not give substance to a contemporary monarchy; rather this was earned through ‘the will to serve the country’.”