19/06/2014 10:34
Felipe takes over as Spanish king
Felipe VI of Spain has acceded to the throne, following the abdication of his father Juan Carlos, the BBC reported.
The retiring king helped introduce democracy after the death of dictator Gen Franco in 1975, but recently his reputation has been damaged by scandal.
At midnight (22:00 GMT) he handed over to his son, who will formally swear an oath in parliament later on Thursday.
Correspondents say ceremonies will be kept low key, at a time when many in Spain are suffering economic hardship.
The ceremony will take the form of a proclamation rather than a coronation. It will be the first royal transition in Spain since democracy was restored.
The new king will be proclaimed after promising to uphold the constitution and giving a speech to parliament.
He and his wife Letizia will then be driven through Madrid's streets before appearing on the front balcony of the Royal Palace.
Correspondents say the new king faces a series of tough challenges if he is to restore the reputation of the monarchy.