His Majesty the King was born on 5 January 1938 in Rome and he is celebrating his 74th birthday this week – ironilcally, to coincide with the Three Kings celebrations in Spain – and will be looking back on one of the toughest 12 months in his 36-year reign.

Numerous debilitating – although not life-threatening – medical problems forced him to miss various important dates on the Royal calendar, which led to harsh speculation on the part of reporters. Latterly, the court case involving alleged misuse of public funds, in which his son-in-law Iñaki Urdangarín is implicated, has led to some embarrassment for the monarchy.

The first of two operations the King had to undergo in 2011 included a knee reconstruction in June after his joint pains became insufferable as a result of a skiing accident 20 years previously. Next, he had to face an operation on his achilles' tendon in September, and the result of this and the knee reconstruction meant the monarch was forced to give up sailing, a sport he had loved and practiced for over 40 years.

Finally, the medical matter that led to the most speculation was the black eye he had to keep covered up with sunglasses after a fall at home. Among the Royal appearances he was unable to attend to was the wedding of Albert of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock, which reporters claimed was a 'lack of respect and courtesy' towards the Principality.

For the first time in 28 years, he did not officially open the Judicial Year, and 2011 saw the King missing his traditional Easter mass at Palma cathedral and his holidays in Mallorca at that time of year. Sources from the Royal household explained that the King was at home preparing the visit to Spain by the Emir of Qatar.

Source://www.thinkspain.com