• Spain’s King Felipe VI, Spain’s Queen Letizia and Spanish Crown Princess Leonor of Asturias ride in a motorcade on the way from the Zarzuela Palace to the Congress of Deputies, Spain’s lower House. Rafa Rivas / AFP Photo
    Spain’s King Felipe VI, Spain’s Queen Letizia and Spanish Crown Princess Leonor of Asturias ride in a motorcade on the way from the Zarzuela Palace to the Congress of Deputies, Spain’s lower House. Rafa Rivas / AFP Photo
  • Felipe leads a royal family tarnished by scandal after the 39-year reign of his 76-year-old father Juan Carlos, who signed his act of abdication with tears in his eyes at the Royal Palace the day before.. Zipi / EPA
    Felipe leads a royal family tarnished by scandal after the 39-year reign of his 76-year-old father Juan Carlos, who signed his act of abdication with tears in his eyes at the Royal Palace the day before.. Zipi / EPA
  • Royal Mounted Guards are seen in the surroundings of the Royal Palace. Juan Carlos Cardenas / EPA
    Royal Mounted Guards are seen in the surroundings of the Royal Palace. Juan Carlos Cardenas / EPA
  • Long live Spain! Long live the king!” cried early crowds outside parliament, where Felipe, a tall, 46-year-old former Olympic yachtsman, will be sworn in hours after he legally assumed the throne at midnight. Getty Images
    Long live Spain! Long live the king!” cried early crowds outside parliament, where Felipe, a tall, 46-year-old former Olympic yachtsman, will be sworn in hours after he legally assumed the throne at midnight. Getty Images
  • Thousands of red and yellow Spanish flags fluttered through the city, flying from buses and even covering police barricades. Pots of white flowers were sprinkled through the city. Christopher Furlon / Getty Images
    Thousands of red and yellow Spanish flags fluttered through the city, flying from buses and even covering police barricades. Pots of white flowers were sprinkled through the city. Christopher Furlon / Getty Images
  • A wellwisher with his dog. Getty Images
    A wellwisher with his dog. Getty Images
  • A giant poster of King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia of Spain. Felipe must try to rally a people stricken by a 26 percent jobless rate and strained by secessionist stirrings in the northeastern region of Catalonia, which wants an independence vote on November 9. Andreas Rentz / Getty Images
    A giant poster of King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia of Spain. Felipe must try to rally a people stricken by a 26 percent jobless rate and strained by secessionist stirrings in the northeastern region of Catalonia, which wants an independence vote on November 9. Andreas Rentz / Getty Images
  • Spainish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy greets Crown Princess Leonor of Asturias, centre and Princess Sofia, second right. Sergio Barrenechea / EPA
    Spainish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy greets Crown Princess Leonor of Asturias, centre and Princess Sofia, second right. Sergio Barrenechea / EPA
  • Spain’s King Felipe VI stands during a swearing in ceremony. AFP Photo
    Spain’s King Felipe VI stands during a swearing in ceremony. AFP Photo
  • Spain's King Felipe VI kisses Spain's Queen Letizia during a handing over ceremony for the sash of the Capitain General in the Chamber of Audiences at the Zarzuela Palace. ZIPI / AFP Photo
    Spain's King Felipe VI kisses Spain's Queen Letizia during a handing over ceremony for the sash of the Capitain General in the Chamber of Audiences at the Zarzuela Palace. ZIPI / AFP Photo

World

In pictures: King Felipe VI begins reign in Spain

Mark Asquith

June 19, 2014

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Spain’s new King Felipe VI launches his reign before parliament on Thursday, sparking a day of celebration in the flag-filled streets of Madrid.

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