Hundreds of anti-monarchy activists have rallied in Madrid following the news King Juan Carlos is abdicating.
The 76-year-old monarch says he's handing over the crown to his son Prince Felipe.
He's spent almost four decades on the throne. hoping to revitalise the palace and the country after years of scandal and recession. This includes outrage over an elephant hunting trip Juan Carlos took during the financial crisis.
The Spanish prime minister addressed the nation to say that there would be an amendment to the constitution to allow the 46-year-old Crown Prince to take over.
His move comes a year after a similar one by the Dutch former Queen Beatrix, who stood aside to allow her son Crown Prince Willem-Alexander to take the throne.
Here's King Juan Carlos:
