King Juan Carlos doesn't have cancer

May 11, 2010, 12:31 GMT

Spain's King Juan Carlos does not have cancer.

The 72-year-old monarch - who is currently recovering at Barcelona's Hospital Clinic after undergoing an operation to have a small tumour removed on his lung - does not have cancer as examinations have confirmed his condition is not serious.

A hospital statement confirmed: "The complete pathological analysis performed rules out definitively the presence of malignant cells in the lung nodules removed."

The hospital say the king - who has a history of heavy smoking - is making a "fully satisfactory" recovery and has been able to walk around and receive visits from relatives and officials.

Among visitors to the king - who is married to Queen Sofia - was his son, Prince Felipe, who said he is "very happy" with his father's progress.

He said: "The king is recovering at a good a pace because he is a very good patient. He is already eating normally and has made it out of bed a little. We are very happy with his recovery."

Princess Cristina, one of the king's daughters, also arrived from Washington to be at the hospital.

She said: "I really wanted to see him. We spoke a lot on the telephone and he is doing perfectly."