10-01-2008 14:00
Spain's King Juan Carlos marked his 70th birthday by vowing to continue reigning as the country's monarch.
The king - who actually turned 70 on Saturday (05.01.08) - celebrated reaching the landmark age by hosting a gala dinner for 450 people at his royal Madrid residence, the Palacio Real de El Pardo, on Wednesday (09.01.08), where he announced he had no plans to step down as king.
He told guests: "I want to be king for all Spaniards. All have contributed to supporting the path of the crown. I am proud of all we have achieved together.
"I have confidence in the future, confidence in our youth and renewed determination to continue working as king with the same passion and commitment as I have always had - in the service of Spain for all Spaniards."
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero took the opportunity to express his own gratitude to the king.
He said: "All of us here believe this period has been the most fruitful in contemporary Spain. We all believe it's extraordinary what King Juan Carlos has contributed to this common success."
Juan Carlos became the King of Spain in 1975 following the death of right-wing dictator General Francisco Franco, and quickly became an extremely popular figure within the country.
More about Spainish King's reigning vow on page 2
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