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| Spain's new king Felipe VI to be sworn in by parliament | Spain's new king Felipe VI to be sworn in by parliament |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Spain's new king, Felipe VI, is to be sworn in as head of state in parliament later on Thursday. | |
| King Felipe received the royal sash from his father, Juan Carlos, in a ceremony at the Zarzuela Palace near Madrid on Thursday morning. | |
| He acceded to the throne at the stroke of midnight after Juan Carlos formally abdicated on Wednesday. | He acceded to the throne at the stroke of midnight after Juan Carlos formally abdicated on Wednesday. |
| Correspondents say the ceremonies will be kept low key, at a time when many in Spain are suffering economic hardship. | Correspondents say the ceremonies will be kept low key, at a time when many in Spain are suffering economic hardship. |
| The ceremony will take the form of a proclamation rather than a coronation. It will be the first royal transition in Spain since democracy was restored in the 1970s. | |
| The new king will be proclaimed after promising to uphold the constitution and giving a speech to parliament. | The new king will be proclaimed after promising to uphold the constitution and giving a speech to parliament. |
| No foreign leaders or royal families have been invited. | |
| He and his wife Letizia will then be driven through Madrid's streets before appearing on the front balcony of the Royal Palace. | He and his wife Letizia will then be driven through Madrid's streets before appearing on the front balcony of the Royal Palace. |
| Correspondents say the new king faces a series of tough challenges if he is to restore the reputation of the monarchy. | Correspondents say the new king faces a series of tough challenges if he is to restore the reputation of the monarchy. |
| Although Juan Carlos won plaudits for his role in restoring democracy, his image suffered when he went on a luxurious African elephant-hunting safari in the midst of a recession. | |
| His reputation suffered further damage because of tax fraud allegations made against his daughter, Cristina, who is reported not to have been invited to the succession party. | His reputation suffered further damage because of tax fraud allegations made against his daughter, Cristina, who is reported not to have been invited to the succession party. |
| At the same time many Spaniards are demanding a referendum on whether to have a monarchy at all. | |
| A demonstration is scheduled to take place in central Madrid on Thursday, the same day as the enthronement, despite a ban imposed by authorities. | |
| The BBC's Chris Morris in Madrid says Felipe will face the dual challenge of trying to rehabilitate the monarchy and trying to unify a country in which a vocal minority favour republicanism. | The BBC's Chris Morris in Madrid says Felipe will face the dual challenge of trying to rehabilitate the monarchy and trying to unify a country in which a vocal minority favour republicanism. |
| The succession has been endorsed by both of Spain's main political parties. | The succession has been endorsed by both of Spain's main political parties. |