King Juan Carlos of Spain to abdicate and hand crown to son Felipe

Juan Carlos' popularity has nosedived in recent years following royal scandals, including an elephant-shooting trip in Botswana he took in the middle of Spain's financial crisis in 2012 that tarnished the monarch's image

King Juan Carlos of Spain is to abdicate after more than 40 years on the throne, handing the crown to his son, Crown Prince Felipe, the country's prime minister has revealed.

The 76-year-old oversaw his country's transition from dictatorship to democracy but has had repeated health problems in recent years and seen his popularity nosedive in the face of a string of corruption scandals and gaffes.

His popularity also dipped following royal scandals, including an elephant-shooting trip he took in the middle of Spain's financial crisis that tarnished the monarch's image.

'His majesty, King Juan Carlos, has just communicated to me his will to give up the throne - I'm convinced this is the best moment for change,' Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said in a surprise announcement.

The king came to power in 1975, two days after the death of longtime dictator Francisco Franco.

He is the second European monarch to abdicate in just over a year. In April last year, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands handed the throne to her son Prince Willem-Alexander after 33 years.

Dailym