King may need six months to recover from operation

Madrid.—King Juan Carlos of Spain on Sunday underwent a successful operation on his back at a Madrid hospital.
The operation, involving two of the king's spinal segments, lasted for around three hours and the hospital's chief neuro-surgeon said the operation had gone “stupendously well.” The doctor added that the king will remain in hospital for around a week and will then need between two and six months to completely recover.
As he arrived at La Milagrosa clinic, the king joked, “Here I am again.” He was welcomed by a handful of citizens at the gates, although one carried a banner saying King Juan Carlos was “bad for Spain.” It is the 12th time the 75-year-old king has undergone surgery during his lifetime.
He had a hip operation last November after he broke his hip during elephant hunting in Botswana last April. He was vilified for taking the luxurious trip when his country was suffering a grave economic crisis.