Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
MADRID (AP) - King Juan Carlos has been discharged from a hospital in Madrid nine days after entering to undergo reconstructive surgery on his left hip joint.
The 74-year-old Spanish monarch joked with journalists as he left a hospital Sunday in the front passenger seat of a chauffeur-driven car, promising to "take things very easy" during his recuperation.
A hospital statement says the king had "very satisfactorily completed the first phase of his rehabilitation."
In April, the head of state was flown back from a controversial elephant hunting safari in Botswana, after fracturing his right hip joint.
The king has had several health issues in the past two years, including knee surgery and the removal of a benign lung tumor.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
![modal](https://img.ksl.com/slc/2548/254870/25487033.jpg)