MADRID, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Spanish King Juan Carlos was not considering abdicating as he prepared to undergo hip surgery for a second time, officials said.
The king, 75, is scheduled to undergo surgery to treat an infection in his hip-replacement, thinkSPAIN reported Saturday.
The surgery has a recovery time of between eight weeks and six months, during which time doctors will decide whether a second surgery is needed.
Rafael Spottorno, head of press communications for the royal household, said the surgery will not interfere with the king's royal duties and that he is "is not even thinking about" abdicating the thrown due to the surgery.
Juan Carlos is also not considering abdicating to allow his son, Prince Felipe, become king or to do away with Spain's monarchy and turn the country into a republic, Spottorno said.
