Many happy returns

The King of Spain, Juan Carlos I, celebrates his 70th birthday today.

These are some of the most important moments of his life:

5th of January 1938. Juan Carlos was born in Rome, where his grandfather Alfonso XIII of Spain had been exiled after the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic. His parents were Juan de Borbón and Battenberg and doña María de las Mercedes of Borbón and Orleáns, Countess of Barcelona

He moved to Spain in 1948 to be educated there. Juan Carlos began his studies in San Sebastián and finished them in 1954 at the San Isidro Institute in Madrid.

He joined the army, doing his officer training in the Military Academy of Zaragoza. He then spent a year in the naval school at Pontevedra and another in the Air Force school in San Javier, Murcia.

In 1961 he graduated from the Complutense University and went to live in the Palace of Zarzuela where he began carrying out official engagements.

14th of May 1962. He married Princess Sofía of Greece in Athens. After their honeymoon, they lived in the Palace of the Zarzuela.

30th of January 1968. Felipe, their first son was born. They already had two daughters; Elena (born 20th of December 1963 and Cristina, born the 13 of June 1965.

22nd of November 1975. Two days after the death of the dictator Franco, Juan Carlos 1 was proclaimed the King of Spain.

15 th of June 1977. Spain held its first democratic elections.

6 of December of 1978. The Spanish Constitution was approved.

Juan Carlos still enjoys popularity as King in Spain 32 years later.

PS also congratulations go to

Minnie Smith (110 years old today). Minnie, who is one of the oldest people in Britain, has lived through three centuries, six monarchs and 21 prime ministers. She has lost her sight and most of her hearing but is apparently still alert and loves to sing.

God bless both of them.