Spain proclaim new king Felipe as Head of State

Spain has proclaimed new king Felipe as Head of State at a ceremony in Parliament in Madrid.

Earlier, King Felipe received the royal sash from his father, Juan Carlos, at the Zarzuela Palace.

 He acceded to the throne at the stroke of midnight after Juan Carlos formally abdicated yesterday. 

Reports say the ceremonies have been kept low key, at a time when many in Spain are suffering economic hardships.

The ceremony took the form of a proclamation rather than a coronation. 

It is the first royal transition in Spain since democracy was restored in the 1970s.

Source: BBC