'I didn't want my son to wither like Prince Charles'

 

Spain's King Juan Carlos told his staff he decided to abdicate because: 'I do not want my son to wither waiting like Prince Charles', it was reported today.


The 76-year-old monarch is believed to have told Rafael Spottorno, chief of the royal household, that he wanted Crown Prince Felipe, 46, to be on the throne while he was still in his young.

'He saw, above all, that his son was in his prime and didn't want to see him like Prince Charles who will be 66 years old in November,' Mr Spottorno is quoted as saying.

The private secretary admitted that the king had been considering abdicating since his 75th birthday in January last year.

Prince Charles has been waiting for 62 years and four months, longer than any other heir apparent in British history having broken the record set by his great-great-grandfather, Edward VII, in April 2011.

Charles became heir apparent at the age of three when his mother, Princess Elizabeth, who is now 88, acceded to the throne on 6 February 1952. He was nine when he was given the title Prince of Wales.

Prince Charles's oldest son Prince William is second in line to the throne and his brother Harry third in line.

Today the Spanish king presided over his last military parade before he steps down in favour his son is proclaimed King Felipe VI on June 19. 

Prince Felipe accompanied the king at the annual Armed Forces day ceremony that honors those who died in the service of the nation. 

Also today, a new poll showed most citizens want a referendum to decide whether Spain should remain a monarchy.

Pollster Metroscopia found that 62 per cent 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 king announced last Monday that he would hand over the throne to 46-year-old son to herald in a 'new era of hope'. 

'Today a younger generation deserves to step into the front line, with new energies,' he told Spaniards in a televised address.

But last week tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Spain to demand a referendum on the future of the monarchy.

More than 20,000 demonstrators rallied in Puerta del Sol square in Madrid, Spain, in support of the end of the monarchy and the establishment of a republic. Thousands more descended on Barcelona's Catalunya square. 

Petitions have appeared online with one collecting 113,000 signatures calling for Spain's political parties to take advantage of this 'historical opportunity to promote a public debate that will help regenerate democracy and determine the future of the monarchy.'