Felipe VI proclaimed King of Spain

Spain's new King Felipe VI (L) reacts next to his wife Queen Letizia during the swearing-in ceremony at the Congress of Deputies in Madrid, June 19, 2014. Spain's new king, Felipe VI, was sworn in on Thursday in a low-key ceremony which monarchists hope will usher in a new era of popularity for the troubled royal household. [Photo/Agencies]

MADRID - Felipe VI was proclaimed King of Spain on Thursday at the Spanish parliament in a solemn ceremony.

King Juan Carlos I of Spain signs abdication bill

Felipe VI, who became King since midnight after his father sanctioned on Wednesday evening the law on his abdication, received the royal sash from his father, Juan Carlos, at 9:30 local time (0730 GMT) at the Palace of Zarzuela.

Half an hour later, Felipe VI and Letizia (the new Queen), drove to the Spanish Congress along with their daughters, the Princess of Asturias, Leonor, and her sister the Infanta Sofia.

Many citizens gathered in the road to greet the new monarchs on their way to the parliament and many more were awaiting the arrival of the monarchs at the Spanish parliament.

All the operation was carried out under tight security measures as around 7,000 members of the country's security forces watched over the proclamation.

The monarchs arrived at the Congress at 10:30 local time (0830 GMT), where the King received military honors and the national anthem was played before the King, the Queen, the Princess of Asturias, her sister and Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy got inside the parliament.

Former king of Spain, Juan Carlos, did not assist to the ceremony as according to the Royal House, the spotlight should rest on the new King on Thursday and on the former King on Wednesday, when Juan Carlos sanctioned the law on his abdication.

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