Juan Carlos
Spain's King Juan Carlos has left hospital after undergoing hip surgery.
The 75-year-old royal smiled as he was being driven away from the medical facility in the Madrid suburbs and told the concerned crowds he was "very well" after being discharged.
A statement released by the hospital said: "His Majesty King Juan Carlos has been discharged from hospital after completing his post-operative period very satisfactorily and having achieved sufficient autonomy for daily life.
"In the next few weeks Don Juan Carlos will continue with his treatment, post-operative check-ups and his planned recovery programme as an outpatient."
Within the next two months, Juan Carlos will go under the knife for a second operation to implant a new permanent artificial left hip as this week's three-hour operation was just a temporary measure.
He will continue his recovery at his primary residence, the Zarzuela Palace near Madrid.
During his time in hospital the king received visits from his wife Queen Sofia, his son Prince Felipe and his wife Princess Letizia and their daughters Infanta Leonor and Infanta Sofia.