Members of Spain’s Royal Family sparked debate among football supporters after appearing in outfits some said resembled “French colours” ahead of the country’s World Cup semi-final clash.
With Spain due to face France just hours later for a coveted place in the tournament final, King Felipe VI attended the Princess of Girona Foundation Awards in Barcelona alongside Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia.
The annual event, designed to recognise promising young talent across Spain, brought the royals together with individuals dedicated to public service, leadership and youth-focused initiatives.
But attention quickly shifted from the ceremony to the royal women’s coordinated colour palette, with sharp-eyed observers pointing out that their looks collectively mirrored the red, white and blue of the French flag.
Queen Letizia chose a deep blue suit, while Princess Leonor made an impression in a striking red ensemble. Infanta Sofia, who recently completed three years of military studies, wore a refined white wraparound suit.
Reacting on X, one royal watcher commented: “Letizia, Leonor and Sofia dressed in the colours of the French flag. I don’t know if that was the best choice today.”
Another user suggested the timing was unfortunate rather than intentional, writing: “I think it’s been a bad coincidence. There’s no subliminal message. But for these things they have entire teams (among them, a stylist). It’s a blunder.”
A third joked: “Oops! Someone in the Spanish royal house didn’t remind them about the World Cup?? French flag colours for the Spanish royal women!”
Members of the Spanish Royal Family have been mocked for wearing ‘French colours’ ahead of the nation’s World Cup semi-final match tonight. King Felipe VI was joined by Queen Letizia , Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia at the Princess of Girona Foundation Awards in Barcelona
However, several came to the Spanish royals’ defence and suggested that the lighting of the photograph may have made their outfits look more distinct than they necessarily were, while others noted that the match was ‘still several hours away’.
‘It’s because today is the anniversary of the French Revolution and the Bourbons are of French origin,’ suggested another.
Spain and France are set to go head-to-head for a place in the World Cup final at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas tonight.
France in particular has been given added motivation to beat Spain in the all-important match following attacks by former Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy, who implied none of the team are French because so many are people of colour.
Spanish players have found themselves having to disown the statement ahead of their clash with France.
Defender Pau Cubarsi said: ‘If they play for the French national team, they are French, regardless of their skin colour. We must show tolerance towards everyone, because we all deserve respect.’
Striker Borja Iglesias added: ‘I can understand that he didn’t say it with bad intentions, but we need to be more vigilant about this kind of remark.’
The French Embassy in Spain also condemned Rajoy, issuing a factual rebuttal that noted all 26 players of Didier Deschamps’ players are French citizens and 23 of them were born in France.
Pictured: Queen Letizia and Princess Sofia attend the presentation of the first edition of the Ibercaja Foundation’s Grands in Zaragoza, Spain, earlier this month
Last month, Princess Leonor, who is the eldest daughter of King elipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain received the title of Adoptive Daughter of San Javier
It comes as last month, Princess Leonor, who is the eldest daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain received the title of Adoptive Daughter of San Javier.
The heir to the Spanish throne received the title, alongside the Gold Medal of the Town, to mark the conclusion of her intensive Air Force training in San Javier.
Leonor greeted the crowds of royal fans who lined the entranceway, and in one heartwarming moment, greeted a young child who sat in its mother’s arms.
It’s been a whirlwind 24 hours for the Princess: just the day before, she parachuted out of an aircraft as part of her military training.
Leonor, seemingly unaffected by the daunting task at hand, was seen smiling and fist-bumping her peers before taking the plunge.
After completing the exercise, the 20-year-old finished the Basic Parachuting Course at the Mendez Parada Military School of Parachuting.
It comes after Leonor marked a major milestone in her military training after successfully piloting an F5 fighter jet in Badajoz.
Leonor flew the plane under the supervision of an instructor at a flight school located on the Talavera la Real Air Base on April 22.
The princess had visited the Fighter and Attack School Wing 23 at the air base alongside her classmates at the General Air and Space Academy in San Javier, after she began three years of military training in 2023.
A video filmed in April showed Leonor smiling as she gave onlookers a thumbs-up from the cockpit before taking flight.
The royal was poised and graceful as she deboarded the plane before shaking hands with instructors and posing for pictures with her fellow students.
As she is the heir to the throne, Leonor will one day take the title of Commander in Chief of the armed forces and therefore has to spend time in each section of defence.
Later this year, Leonor will begin a four-year university degree in Political Science at the Carlos III University of Madrid, the royal household confirmed.
At the Spanish university, Leonor will study courses in humanities, economics, sociology, history and international relations as she prepares for her future as queen, the statement said.
