MADRID Spains King Juan Carlos I will give up his

throne to his son. A new generation demands, with

justice, the leading role, the king said Monday.
He said the younger generation deserves to take over. He
called it one with new energy" and willing to make the
changes that Spain needs.
The king said his son Felipe is trustworthy and well-
prepared. Felipe "has the sense of responsibility necessary
to become head of state and launch a new stage of
hope."
Juan Carlos wants to be remembered as an honest king
who did his duty.
All signs show that he will do just that. But there have also
been clouds for the king. Juan Carlos has reigned since
1975. More than other European kings, he has had to
fight for his popularity.
Winning The Hearts Of Spaniards
Juan Carlos was born in Rome, Italy, on Jan. 5, 1938. He
was the son of Don Juan of Bourbon and Battenberg. The
Bourbon family was overthrown in 1931. Francisco Franco
became the sole ruler of Spain after a civil war.
Franco decided that the country should have a king after
his death. He picked Juan Carlos. Juan Carlos was 10 at
the time and returned to a homeland he did not know.
Juan Carlos went to school at military colleges and the
University of Madrid. But he was not a popular choice.
People thought he would do whatever Franco told him to
do. They called him Franco's puppet. Juan Carlos was once
attacked with tomatoes when touring Spain. When he was
crowned, most people didn't especially care.
Still, Juan Carlos won the hearts of Spaniards. He fought
for democracy. He supported the democratic heads of
Spanish government. In 1981, he helped defeat an
attempted takeover of Spain's government by members of
the army.
Of all the modern European kings or queens, he had the
greatest effect on his country.
Good Sense Of Humor
You have to earn your crown every day, Juan Carlos told
his son Felipe.
Juan Carlos lived a low-key lifestyle in the Zarzuela palace.
The palace is not much bigger than a large home.
Juan Carlos was friendly and easy-going. He rule wasn't
very formal. He loved sports and fast cars, and had a good
sense of humor.
His relaxed style was balanced by his more formal wife.
His wife, Queen Sofia, was born in Greece. They have
three children Prince Felipe and Princesses Elena and
Cristina.
The press was grateful for the democratic freedoms. They
felt the king was partly responsible. So, at first they
protected the royal family. They didn't publicize their
mistakes.
But recently the press stopped protecting the king. In
2012, news about an expensive hunting expedition to
Africa appeared in Spain's newspapers. The elephant
hunting trip took place in the middle of an economic
crisis. Nearly a quarter of Spanish workers lost their jobs.
Juan Carlos apologized.
Not In Good Health
But earlier this year, his daughter, Cristina, was charged
with cheating on her taxes.
There were also questions about how much money the
royal family got from the government. So, earlier this year,
they were given salaries.
Nor was his position as king always appreciated. Groups in
several parts of Spain want to separate and form their
own countries. For them, he is a symbol of a country to
which they do not want to belong.
Juan Carlos is not in good health. But even as it became
worse, the king insisted he would not be forced off the
throne.
Through it all, the king remained popular. He was called a
role model for other European royals. He knew something
that every royal family should remember that kings are
not born, but made by the people.