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Juan Carlos I of Spain: years of rule

Spain's King Juan Carlos I has announced his plans to abdicate

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Juan Carlos was named as the next head of state by Spanish dictator Francisco Franco in 1969. Photo: Francisco Franco, left, with his future successor as King, Prince Juan Carlos de Borbon

© AP Photo/File

Juan Carlos became King on 22 November 1975, two days after Franco's death. Photo: Juan Carlos (C left) and Queen Sophia (C right) during the proclamation ceremony

© EPA PHOTO EFE/-

King Juan Carlos and his family seen in 1975

© AP Photo/File

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia

© Fotokhronika TASS/Archive

SPAIN SPANISH KING Spanish King Juan Carlos, right, and Javier Solana, NATO secretary general in 1998

© AP Photo/Jozo Pavkovic, File

Spanish King Juan Carlos holds bootees given to him as a gift for his second grandson in 1999

© EPA PHOTO EFE/M.H.DE LEON

Michael Schumacher congratulated by King Juan Carlos

© EPA PHOTO EFE/ANDREU DALMAU.

Spanish national soccer team goalkeeper Iker Casillas (R) hands the World Cup trophy to Spanish King Juan Carlos in 2010

© EPA/MANUEL H. DE LEON

King Juan Carlos with Vladimir Putin in 2006

© ITAR-TASS/Vladimir Rodionov

On Monday Spain's Prime Minister announced, that King Juan Carlos abdicates

© AP Photo/Spanish Royal Palace

Spain's Crown Prince Felipe will take over the throne after his father's abdication. Photo: King Juan Carlos I (right) and Spanish Crown Prince Felipe

© EPA/EMILIO NARANJO

© EPA/SERGIO BARRENECHEA

Spanish King Juan Carlos I has announced plans to abdicate.

As reported by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, Spanish parliament is to pass a law, that will allow Crown Prince Felipe take over the throne.

Juan Carlos was named as the next head of state by Spanish dictator Francisco Franco in 1969. He became King in 1975, when Franco died. During his rule, Juan Carlos oversaw his country's transition from dictatorship to democracy. The years of Juan Carlos' rule in this photo gallery by ITAR-TASS.

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