Spain’s King Juan Carlos is due to sign a law allowing his own abdication later on Wednesday in a ceremony at the royal palace in Madrid.<br /><br />It will be his last act as head of state after a 39 year reign.<br /><br />Parliament voted yesterday to approve the abdication law, paving the way for his son Prince Felipe to take the throne.<br /><br />The King, who led Spain’s transition from dictatorship to democracy has recently faced damaging scandals and a fall in popularity. He has also had health problems in the last few years.<br /><br />On Thursday the prince will be crowned King Felipe VI and his wife, Letizia, a former TV presenter, will become queen.<br /><br />Security is tight in the capital with more than 7,000 police and security deployed.
