Only a few days before King Juan Carlos of Spain steps down from the throne, US President Barack Obama decided to phone the 76-year-old monarch to bid him farewell and congratulate him.
"The President thanked the King for his steadfast promotion of democracy in Spain and commitment to strong transatlantic relations," the White House said in a statement released late on Sunday.
"The two leaders also affirmed the strong bonds of friendship between the United States and Spain, which continue to deepen," it concluded.
Obama and King Juan Carlos met for the first time at the White House in 2010 to discuss everything from the global economic crisis to the handover of Guantanamo prisoners to Spain to help the US leader complete his promise of closing the controversial terrorist prison.
Spain’s outgoing king was the first European head of state to meet with the US leader at the White House.
The Spanish royals also invited US First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughter Sasha to spend their summer holidays art their royal palace in the Balearic island of Majorca.
Photo: Jaime Reina/AFP
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