Spain's former king Juan Carlos will leave the country, the royal palace has announced, weeks after he was linked to an inquiry into alleged corruption.
Juan Carlos, 82, made the announcement in a letter to his son, Felipe, to whom he handed power six years ago.
He said he would be available if prosecutors needed to interview him.
In June, Spain's Supreme Court opened an investigation into the alleged involvement of Juan Carlos in a high-speed rail contract in Saudi Arabia.
It was not immediately clear when the former monarch would leave Spain and where he would reside.
Juan Carlos abdicated in 2014 after nearly 40 years as king following a corruption investigation involving his daughter's husband and a controversial elephant hunting trip the monarch took during Spain's financial crisis.
What did the letter say?
In the letter, the former monarch wrote that he was making the decision "in the face of the public repercussions that certain past events in my private life are generating" and in the hope of allowing his son to carry out his functions as king with "tranquillity".
"Guided by the conviction to best serve the people of Spain, its institutions, and you as king, I inform you of my decision at this time to leave Spain.
"A decision I make with deep emotion but with great serenity," the letter said.
The statement from the Zarzuela palace said that King Felipe VI had conveyed "his heartfelt respect and gratitude" to his father for this decision.
In March, King Felipe VI renounced the inheritance of his father. The royal palace also said at the time that Juan Carlos would stop receiving an annual grant of €194,000 ($228,000; £174,520).
What is the corruption investigation about?
Spain's Supreme Court has said it aims to establish Juan Carlos's connection with the Saudi project after his abdication in June 2014. At that point he lost his immunity from prosecution.
Spanish firms won a €6.7bn (£6bn) deal to build a Mecca-Medina rail link.
The probe involves Swiss banks too.
Spanish anti-corruption officials suspect that the former king kept some undeclared funds in Switzerland, and a Swiss investigation is under way.
The Spanish government has said that "justice is equal for all" and it would "not interfere" in the inquiry.
Latest Stories
-
Fuel price adjustment: petrol surges to GH₵15.22, diesel falls to GH₵14.65
6 mins -
Ford Foundation partners foster collaborative solutions for host Community Development Trusts implementation in Nigeria
21 mins -
Appiatse reconstruction: Support Bawumia to do more for Ghana – Richard Ahiagbah to Ghanaians
47 mins -
I wanted Harry Kane at Man United – Ten Hag
49 mins -
Ayorkumi: Stage play on slave trade premieres on May 11
50 mins -
Majority defends GRA-SML deal, insists no wrong was done
57 mins -
Church Of Pentecost disburses educational sponsorships worth ¢14,281,540 million
58 mins -
Tiffany Haddish tracked down trolls’ personal information and called them
1 hour -
Money Summit: Fidelity Bank’s Atta Gyan calls for a rethink on investment strategies
1 hour -
WPL 2023/24: Battle for glory as Northern and Southern zone clubs chase playoff spots
1 hour -
Ghana’s Press Freedom Index improvement nothing to write home about – Sam George
1 hour -
Ghana Wellness and Healthcare Awards slated for June 14
2 hours -
OSP begins investigation into alleged bribery of EC staff by Kwadaso MP
2 hours -
Ghana FA laud Coach Zito with standing ovation after Dreams FC’s exploit in Africa
2 hours -
Asantehene worried over brain drain in African contemporary arts
2 hours