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King Felipe of Spain has thanked his father, former King Juan Carlos, 82, for his decision to leave Spain. In June, Spain’s Supreme Court started an investigation into Juan Carlos’ involvement in a high-speed rail contract in Saudi Arabia. The investigation came after Switzerland’s La Tribune de Geneve newspaper reported Carlos had received $100 million from the late Saudi King.

Spanish companies won a €6.7billion (£6bn) deal to build a Mecca-Medina rail link.

In light of the announcement it was not immediately clear whether Juan Carlos has already left Spain, or where he intends to go.

Through his lawyer, Javier Sanchez-Junco, Juan Carlos has declined to comment on the allegations.

The former king’s decision to leave Spain is reported to be motivated by mounting disapproval of the monarchy in Spain.

The palace statement quoted Juan Carlos’ letter to the king as saying that he wanted to enable Felipe to rule untroubled “amid the public repercussions that certain past events in my private life are generating.

“Guided by my desire to do what is best to serve the Spanish people, its institutions and you as king, I am informing you of my … decision to leave Spain at this time.”

In response King Felipe thanked Juan Carlos for his decision, emphasising “the historic importance that his father’s reign represents” for democracy in Spain.

King Felipe also reaffirmed “the principles and values on which it (democracy) is based according to our Constitution and legal framework”.

Who is former King Juan Carlos?

King Juan Carlos I ruled as King of Spain from 1975 until 2014.

Juan Carlos is the grandson of King Alfonso XIII, who was the last king of Spain before the Spanish monarchy was abolished in 1931.

Many have credited Juan Carlos’ role in Spain’s transition from dictatorship under General Franco to democracy.

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The Spanish Constitution of 1978, which re-established the role of the constitutional monarchy in Spain, was approved in a referendum.

Juan Carlos also played a pivotal role in preventing an attempted military coup in 1981.

However towards the end of his reign, Juan Carlos did spark controversy when he embarked on an elephant hunting trip in Botswana in 2012.

The trip was condemned by many for its cruelty, but also for its timing, as Spain was in the midst of a financial crisis.

Juan Carlos married Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark in 1962, and the couple have three children together: Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo, Infanta Cristina and King Felipe VI of Spain.

On June 2, 2014, King Juan Carlos announced his decision to abdicate in favour of his son, Prince Felipe, who was next in line to the throne.

King Felipe VI, 52, rules with his wife Queen Letizia as consort, whom he married in 2004.

Felipe ascended the throne at the stroke of midnight on June 19, becoming the youngest monarch in Europe at the time.

The couple have two daughters, Leonor and Sofia, with the former heir presumptive to the Spanish crown.

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