King Juan Carlos dropped in unannounced to spend the New Year with Spanish troops stationed in Afghanistan today.

Accompanied by Defence minister, José Antonio Alonso, and the Head of the Spanish Armed Forces, General Félix Sanz Roldán, the party arrived early this morning on board a Hercules transport plane after a brief stopover in Kuwait on route from Madrid.

During the five-hour visit, King Juan Carlos, who celebrates his 70th birthday later this week, visited the infirmary and sat down for a special festive lunch with the surprised troops.

He also made a radio announcement for all those troops not on base, that was also broadcast on the RNE national radio channel. "I just wanted to wish all of you the best for the coming year. While I regret not being able to greet you in person, I send you my warm regards," said the king, who made a similar visit to Bosnia ten years ago, coinciding with his 60th birthday.

During the visit, King Juan Carlos was in a jovial and relaxed mood, and was particularly interested in a signpost the troops have set up, showing distances to places such as Oviedo (5,837km), Cádiz (3,000 and a bit), or Elche (5,565).