King Juan Carlos takes umbrage at health inquiries

King Juan Carlos made his ire at constant press reports over the state of his health plain on Tuesday after presiding over a meeting of the Business Confederation of Madrid at the La Zarzuela palace. As the king was passing by the assembled reporters following the meeting, one inquired after his health and the monarch, visibly annoyed, responded: "Terrible, can't you tell? You are determined to say that I'm feeling awful. You like to kill me and bury me every day."

The Spanish king does a fine line in irony but on this occasion a simmering anger underlay his exchange with the press. After he had posed for the traditional photocall on the stairs of the palace, the monarch resumed his tirade against reports over his health. "They're determined to put me in a box," he said.

Last May, the king underwent surgery to remove a benign tumor from one of his lungs. Press coverage of the monarch's hospitalization was intense. The operation was carried out at the Clínic hospital in Barcelona, where Juan Carlos will undergo surgery to repair a knee complaint on Saturday.

The necessity for the intervention was decided weeks ago, the king having undergone daily physiotherapy to relieve the discomfort. However, the Royal Palace wished to delay the announcement until after the May 22 elections.