Spain’s king discharged from hospital after lung surgery

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Spain: King discharged from hospital

MADRID — Spain’s King Juan Carlos has walked out of a Barcelona hospital looking fit and relaxed three days after undergoing surgery to remove a benign tumor from his right lung.

The 72-year-old monarch smiled as he chatted with reporters Tuesday outside the state-owned Hospital Clinic. He thanked the doctors and nurses who treated him and praised Spain’s public health care system.

Doctors said Monday that full tests show there are no traces of cancer in the small tumor removed from the king’s lung on Saturday.

The king has a history of heavy smoking but has not been seen smoking in public in recent years. The Royal Palace will not say if he has stopped.