Spanish media speculated today that former King Juan Carlos went to the Dominican Republic after announcing he was leaving Spain to allow his son, the current king, to carry out his duties unhindered, but the royal palace refused to make any statements.
The media write as a foregone conclusion that the former king has already left Spanish territory yesterday when he announced that he would be leaving, but neither the royal palace nor the government confirmed it.
The daily ABC, which supports the monarchy, writes today that Juan Carlos (82) has gone to the Dominican Republic.
The newspapers El Mundo and Vanguardia write the same, stating that he intends to stay with friends in that Caribbean country for a while.
However, the online daily El Confidencial writes that the former king could be in Portugal, where he was as a child, but also in France or Italy, or with relatives.
The Royal Palace refuses to comment on the speculation.
"The only information we have is what was published on the Royal Household website yesterday," a spokesman said.
The Royal Palace published yesterday a letter from Juan Carlos to his son, King Felipe VI, in which he says he intends to leave Spain to help him "fulfill his obligations".
A statement from the royal family said that Juan Carlos wanted to enable King Felipe to rule unfettered by the consequences of what "certain things from his private life have left in the public eye".
King Felipe VI thanked his father for that decision and underlined the historical importance that the reign of Juan Carlos represents for democracy in Spain after the fascist dictatorship of Francisco Franco.
Wanting to distance himself from former King Juan Carlos, who has been hit by numerous scandals due to his lavish lifestyle, Spain's monarch Felipe VI decided to renounce his father's succession in mid-March.
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