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ROYAL FAMILY

Spain’s former king Juan Carlos to undergo heart operation

Spain's former king Juan Carlos I, who retired from public life in June, will undergo heart surgery on Saturday, the royal palace said.

Published: 22 August 2019 14:35 CEST
Spain's former king Juan Carlos to undergo heart operation
King Juan Carlos I pictured at the funeral ceremony of Jean d'Aviano, Grand Duke of Luxembourg in May. Photo: AFP

Doctors detected the need for the operation during an annual check up in June and the operation was scheduled for the end of August, a spokesman for the royal palace told AFP.

“It does not seem like it is a serious case,” the spokesman said, adding the 81-year-old had “led a normal life” since he was told he needed surgery.   

The royal palace did not specify what medical condition would be treated. The operation will be carried out at a private hospital at a Madrid suburb.   

Juan Carlos, who helped smooth Spain's transition to democracy in the 1970s after the Francisco Franco dictatorship, abdicated in favour of his son Felipe in 2014.

Despite having retired from public life, he has continued to be spotted in public at bullfights in Madrid and at a sailing competition in Finland.   

He underwent a knee operation last year and has had multiple hip operations.

READ ALSO: IN PICS: Key moments in the public life of King Juan Carlos I as he announces retirement

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WORKING IN SWEDEN

Swedish Royal Guards scrap ceremonial helmets over safety concerns

The King’s mounted Royal Guards will no longer be able to wear their iconic ceremonial helmets on parades, after the Swedish Work Environment Authority warned of serious safety concerns.

Published: 7 July 2023 13:53 CEST
Swedish Royal Guards scrap ceremonial helmets over safety concerns

“We take the safety of our employees extremely seriously and we are going to address this immediately,” colonel Stefan Nacksten, head of the Royal Guards, wrote in a statement. 

Employed by the Armed Forces, the Royal Guards are the King’s cavalry and infantry units and are a well-known sight at ceremonies in Sweden, including at the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace of Stockholm every day in summer – a popular spectacle for Stockholmers and tourists alike.

The helmets will no longer be used by Royal Guards on horseback from July 7th, as they do not conform to safety standards for riding helmets, although guards parading on foot will still be permitted to wear them.

They are part of the 1895 parade uniforms and were last modified in 2000. The Armed Forces will now create an entirely new helmet which looks the part, but is also safe for riding.

“We’re working on finding an alternative solution as quickly as possible which meets safety requirements and can also be used during parades,” Nacksten said.

“We’ve been working long-term with this issue but now that it has been assessed [by the Swedish Work Environment Authority] we need to take measures immediately,” he added.

“This is good, and now we’re working to make sure something good comes out of this and we can get a safe riding helmet for parades in place as soon as possible.”

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