Spanish Crown Prince Felipe, background left, talks with Spanish Princess Letizia, as Spanish King Juan Carlos, foreground looks on, during a military parade on Armed Forces day in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, June 8, 2014. King Juan Carlos plans to abdicate and pave the way for his son, Crown Prince Felipe, to become the country’s next king. The 76-year-old Juan Carlos oversaw his country’s transition from dictatorship to democracy but has had repeated health problems in recent years. 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. The king came to power in 1975, two days after the death of longtime dictator Francisco Franco. AP
MADRID — Spain’s King Juan Carlos has presided over his last military parade before abdicating in favor of his son.
Prince Felipe accompanied the king at Sunday’s annual Armed Forces day ceremony that honors those who died in the service of the nation.
Also Sunday, a new poll showed most citizens want a referendum to decide whether Spain should remain a monarchy.
Pollster Metroscopia found that 62 percent of respondents said they wanted a referendum on the monarchy “at some point.” A majority also said they favored the king’s abdication.
The poll was published Sunday in El Mundo newspaper.
The prince is due to be proclaimed King Felipe VI on June 19.
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