Emerging from the hospital in Madrid after being treated for a broken hip, King Juan Carlos addressed reporters and said: “I am very sorry. I made a mistake. It won’t happen again.” He also thanked the staff at the hospital for the treatment he received.
Although the King didn’t say precisely what he was very sorry about (his clumsiness, perhaps?), it was widely interpreted as being an apology for going elephant hunting in Botswana while the ordinary people of Spain languish with 23% unemployment and an ever-worsening economic situation. His African hunting trip only became public knowledge due to the fall which resulted in his broken hip. The news of how he was spending his time sparked outrage among those who apparently believe that kings should mope in their castles when socialist policies drive their nations to the brink of economic collapse. Well, thanks to his hip injury, King Juan Carlos now has good reason to mope.
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And yes, you read that right: the King of Spain was hunting elephants. He also happens to be the honorary president of the World Wildlife Fund in Spain. And that, in the end, is the ironic detail which made noting this story irresistible.