Juan Carlos

Jimmy Morales, a former TV comic elected Guatemala's new president on a wave of public revulsion against widespread graft, took office on Jan. 14 in a ceremony attended by leaders from the Americas.

Cristina de Borbon, sister of Spain?s King Felipe VI, will appear in court on Jan. 11 on tax fraud charges, court documents showed yesterday, as part of a wider investigation into her husband?s Noos Foundation charity. 

Spain's King Felipe VI has issued a decree stripping his sister Princess Cristina of her title as Duchess of Palma, the palace announced June 11, as the royal sibling faces tax evasion charges in a scandal that has embarrassed the monarchy.

European royal families attended a memorial service in memory of Prince Kardam, the eldest son of Bulgaria's Last King and former Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.

A Spanish judge ruled Wednesday that King Felipe VI's sister, Princess Cristina, and her husband must face fraud charges, opening the way to an unprecedented criminal trial.
      

By Nikos Konstandaras

Felipe VI of Spain was handed the throne by his father Juan Carlos late on Wednesday, in what marked the first succession of the crown in Spain's recent democratic history.

Thousands of Spaniards gathered in the capital Madrid to call for a referendum on the future of the monarchy.

In total, more than 60 rallies were staged across the country, shortly after King Juan Carlos, who had ruled since 1975, announced his decision to abdicate. Demonstrators waved republican flags and shouted slogans against the monarchy.

Spain's scandal-hit royal family looked to a new king- and queen-in-waiting to mend its fortunes as King Juan Carlos called an end to his 39-year reign on June 2.

The 76-year-old monarch said he would hand over the crown to his son Prince Felipe, 46, hoping to revitalise the palace and the country after years of scandal and recession.,

Spain's King Juan Carlos has decided to abdicate, in favor of his son Prince Felipe.

"His Majesty King Juan Carlos has just informed me of his desire to renounce the throne and begin the process of succession", Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced.