# King Juan Carlos of Spain is abdicating **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 2, 2014, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-juan-carlos-of-spain-is-abdicating/689836 "2014-06-02T14:06:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Batistuta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/58956e/32.png) [@Batistuta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batistuta)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-juan-carlos-of-spain-is-abdicating/689836/41 "2014-06-03T14:44:21Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > Perhaps it’s a Spanish idiom whose meaning is lost in translation. Slightly confusing thread all round - King Juan Carlos has been shagging elephants? That would explain the broken hip 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-juan-carlos-of-spain-is-abdicating/689836/42 "2014-06-03T15:57:50Z")
> [@KarlGrenze](#): > > It is a Spanish idiom with a lost in translation meaning. King Juan Carlos apparently has been having affairs (this is not something my source of European and Spanish high class news, ¡Hola! discusses), and **Nava** mentions how that fact is more damning to him (in court of public opinion) than whether or not he hunts elephants. It’s also used in English, although for some reason (heh) I see it mostly coming from the SW of the US. To cuckold someone = to give horns to someone. And if your horns are as large as Queen Sofia’s, you wear grooves in the ceiling. As for abdicating being a tradition: not in the Spanish royal house, even though both Don Juan and Alfonso XIII abdicated. Alfonso didn’t abdicate on his son Don Juan, but give up the throne altogether; Don Juan, as has been mentioned, had to be convinced to abdicate in his son so Juan Carlos could in turn get it back (there was simply no way Franco would restore the monarchy in Don Juan; in a young prince raised by himself, on the other hand…). The political manoeuvering involved in moving young Juanito from his parents’ household to Franco’s, and then in convincing Franco that Juan Carlos would respect his “well-tied ties”, appears to have been something that would have had Machiavello howling with glee. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-juan-carlos-of-spain-is-abdicating/689836/43 "2014-06-04T00:09:48Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > There are 7 monarchies left in Europe. Of those 7, the only two that aren’t descended from Victoria are the Kings of Belgium and the Netherlands. The Kings of the Belgians (not Kings of Belgium) are, however, descended from Queen Victoria’s mother’s brother. Leopold was also a potential British royal consort, because his first wife was Princess Charlotte of Wales, the only legitimate child of the British King George IV, but she died in childbirth, which sent the Hanover family scurrying for legitimate marriages, one of which produced Victoria. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-juan-carlos-of-spain-is-abdicating/689836/44 "2014-06-04T01:01:07Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > This is interesting. If only we had someone on this board who could shed a little light on the matter. Snort. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-juan-carlos-of-spain-is-abdicating/689836/45 "2014-06-04T03:13:24Z")
> [@GrandWino](#): > > Once I was the King of Spain, and now I work at the [Pizza Pizza](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylaLG-DdT7E). The very first thing I thought of when I read about it on the BBC web site. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-juan-carlos-of-spain-is-abdicating/689836/46 "2014-06-04T03:50:21Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > Jeeze, that would be embarrassing. Well at least future generations won’t misremember her for dying while fornicating a horse. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-juan-carlos-of-spain-is-abdicating/689836/47 "2014-06-04T05:05:40Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > [QUOTE=alphaboi867] > > Unlike her continental cousins she [Elizabeth II] _will_ die on the throne. Jeeze, that would be embarrassing. [/QUOTE] One of her predecessors did: [George II](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_II_of_Great_Britain#Death), her great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-juan-carlos-of-spain-is-abdicating/689836/48 "2014-06-04T17:48:36Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > Jeeze, that would be embarrassing. Hey, dying on the throne was good enough for the King… ---
**Author:** ![Hector\_St\_Clare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5ac83/32.png) [@Hector\_St\_Clare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hector_St_Clare)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-juan-carlos-of-spain-is-abdicating/689836/49 "2014-06-04T18:07:02Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > There are 7 monarchies left in Europe. Of those 7, the only two that aren’t descended from Victoria are the Kings of Belgium and the Netherlands. What about the ruling house of Sweden? I know the dynasty had non-aristocratic origins (they were founded by a French officer in Napoleon’s army who was elected to the Swedish throne), but maybe they married into Victoria’s family afterward? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-juan-carlos-of-spain-is-abdicating/689836/50 "2014-06-04T19:10:51Z")
No connection to the British Royal Family that I see: [Monarchy of Sweden - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Sweden#History) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-juan-carlos-of-spain-is-abdicating/689836/51 "2014-06-04T19:17:31Z")
Oops! The current King of Sweden’s predecessor and grandfather married a granddaughter of Queen Victoria: > **[Princess Margaret of Connaught](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Margaret_of_Connaught)** > > Princess Margaret of Connaught (Margaret Victoria Charlotte Augusta Norah; 15 January 1882 – 1 May 1920) was Crown Princess of Sweden as the first wife of the future King Gustaf VI Adolf. She was the elder daughter of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, third son of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, and his wife Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia. Known in Sweden as Margareta, her marriage produced five children; she was the grandmother of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Queen Margrethe II ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-juan-carlos-of-spain-is-abdicating/689836/52 "2014-06-04T19:19:17Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > No connection to the British Royal Family that I see: [Monarchy of Sweden - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Sweden#History) They have a good looking princess, sister to the current crown princess, who could catch Harry’s eye!😛 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-juan-carlos-of-spain-is-abdicating/689836/53 "2014-06-04T19:33:40Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > They have a good looking princess, sister to the current crown princess, who could catch Harry’s eye!😛 If you mean HRH Princess Madeleine, then she’s indeed good-looking but also taken. :smack: Catching Harry’s eye is OK if that’s all that’s caught. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-juan-carlos-of-spain-is-abdicating/689836/54 "2014-06-04T20:44:43Z")
The present King of Norway also descends from Queen Maud, another granddaughter of Queen Victoria. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-juan-carlos-of-spain-is-abdicating/689836/55 "2014-06-04T20:55:42Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > One of her predecessors did: [George II](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_II_of_Great_Britain#Death), her great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather. So did [Catherine](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/100/is-it-true-about-catherine-the-great-and-the-horse), actually. > [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The Kings of the Belgians (not Kings of Belgium) are, however, descended from Queen Victoria’s mother’s brother. Leopold was also a potential British royal consort, because his first wife was Princess Charlotte of Wales, the only legitimate child of the British King George IV, but she died in childbirth, which sent the Hanover family scurrying for legitimate marriages, one of which produced Victoria. And even then I believe some are still related through other families. I think it’s safe to say that most of European royals are one big, if not happy, family. > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Oops! The current King of Sweden’s predecessor and grandfather married a granddaughter of Queen Victoria: > > [Princess Margaret of Connaught - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Margaret_of_Connaught) And his second [wife](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Mountbatten) was Queen Victoria’s GREAT-granddaughter! (And Prince Phillip’s aunt) ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-juan-carlos-of-spain-is-abdicating/689836/56 "2014-06-04T22:29:35Z")
In surprised that sophisticated Europeans care about the king’s sex life. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-juan-carlos-of-spain-is-abdicating/689836/57 "2014-06-04T22:33:25Z")
ninja’d ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-juan-carlos-of-spain-is-abdicating/689836/58 "2014-06-04T22:40:18Z")
What did the king do on a day-to-day basis? I know that Spain is a constitutional monarchy, so he wasn’t spending hours adjudicating issue after issue every day, and it’s not likely that he was working 9-5 doing policy research and whatnot. What was his schedule like? I assume that he gets (or got) regular briefings on national security, economics, etc., and was also expected to schmooze around quite a bit with ambassadors, etc. and go to lots of lavish dinners. Is that pretty much it? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-juan-carlos-of-spain-is-abdicating/689836/59 "2014-06-04T22:44:59Z")
Well, he had to produce heirs, but that seems to have been accomplished. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-juan-carlos-of-spain-is-abdicating/689836/60 "2014-06-04T23:57:51Z")
Here’s an overview - it’s a somewhat robust monarchy, as European kingships go: [Monarchy of Spain - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Spain) Looks like the new king will, as expected, become Felipe VI: [Coronation of Prince Felipe to take place on June 19 | Spain | EL PAÍS English](http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/06/03/inenglish/1401790263_581257.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-juan-carlos-of-spain-is-abdicating/689836.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-juan-carlos-of-spain-is-abdicating/689836.md?page=4)