Spain's King Juan Carlos has had enough of ruling Spain and has decided to abdicate.
The 76-year-old ruler is set to leave the throne in order to allow his son, Crown Prince Felipe, 46, to rule Spain, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has announced.
Spain's King Juan Carlos is to abdicate the throne in order to allow his son Crown Prince Felipe to rule the country,
In a nationwide address on Monday (02.06.14), the Prime Minister said: "His Majesty King Juan Carlos has just informed me of his desire to renounce the throne and begin the process of succession.
"The reason for the king's decision is something that he wants to communicate personally to the Spanish people this morning."
He added: "I found the king convinced that this is the best moment to change the head of state in all normality and for the transition of the crown to the Prince of Asturias."
Juan Carlos ascended to the throne in 1975 after the death of dictator Francisco Franco.
Considered a popular ruler for much of his reign, the monarch's popularity has suffered in recent years.
In 2012, he was pictured on an expensive elephant-hunting trip in Botswana while his people struggled to fight the economic recession.
Meanwhile, his youngest daughter, Cristina, and her husband Inaki Urdangarin have been the focus of an investigation into corruption.
New monarch Felipe remains untarnished by the various scandals and has proven a popular figure among the Spanish people.
He is married to former TV presenter Letizia and the couple have two young daughters, Leonor and Sofia.
Tagged in King Juan Carlos