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Road to the throne: top facts and schedule

AFP/The Local
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Road to the throne: top facts and schedule
Felipe, 46, technically becomes King of Spain at midnight on Wednesday. Photo: Josep Lago/AFP

The world's eyes will be on Spain on Thursday as Prince Felipe is proclaimed the country's new king. Here The Local has put together everything you need to know about the much anticipated enthronement.

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Spain plans a relatively low-key start onThursday to the reign of its new king, Felipe VI. There will be no gala coronation but he and the new Queen Letizia will wave to the masses after he is sworn in by parliament.

The ceremonies were organized in just a couple of weeks after Felipe'sfather King Juan Carlos announced his abdication on June 2. No visiting foreign dignitaries are invited.

Here are some of the scheduled highlights:

On Wednesday at Madrid's old Royal Palace -- a historic ceremonial venue, not a residence -- King Juan Carlos signs the act of parliament formalizing his abdication in front of 150 invited dignitaries.

- Felipe, 46, then technically becomes king at midnight on Wednesday. The publication of the abdication in Thursday's edition of the official state journal formally marks the start of his reign.

On Thursday morning (9.30 am approx.) at their Zarzuela Palace residence on the outskirts of Madrid, Juan Carlos hands Felipe the red sash of captain general, the highest rank in the army.

- Felipe, his wife the new Queen Letizia and their daughters Leonor and Sofia then head to the centre of Madrid to the lower house of parliament, the Congress (10.30 am approx.). He receives military honours outside the building.

- The new royal family pass go through the Lions Gate into the Congress, where Felipe will be sworn in on a specially built platform draped in red.

- Hundreds of Spanish deputies and senators will attend the swearing-in. Juan Carlos says he will not attend so as not to draw attention away from his son.

- Felipe will swear "faithfully to fulfill his duties, to safeguard the constitution and the laws, to respect the rights of citizens and the autonomous regions" of Spain. The national anthem will then be played.

- After a military parade in front of Congress, the new king and queen will be driven through the wide avenues of central Madrid to the old Royal Palace in the west of the city (11.30 am).

- Felipe and Letizia, along with Juan Carlos and Felipe's mother Queen Sofia, will wave to the crowds from the palace's front balcony, which overlooks the park on the Plaza Oriente square.

- A reception will be held inside the Royal Palace for 2,000 guests (at approx. 1 pm) , including foreign ambassadors to Spain, though no foreign delegations have been invited over specially.

 - In early July the new king and queen are due to begin a tour of Spain and abroad. The first foreign stops are likely to be neighbouring France, Portugal and Morocco.

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