Members of the Spanish Royal Family have drawn criticism on social media for wearing outfits in colors associated with the French flag on the day of Spain's World Cup semi-final match against France. Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor, and Infanta Sofia attended the Princess of Girona Foundation Awards in Barcelona, where their attire sparked a debate among football fans.
Queen Letizia wore a dark blue suit, Princess Leonor chose a red ensemble, and Infanta Sofia sported a white suit, leading some observers to note the resemblance to the French national colors of red, white, and blue. Social media users expressed surprise and suggested it was a misstep given the timing of the major sporting event.
One comment on X read, "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 commented, "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."
Others defended the royals, suggesting that the lighting in photographs might have altered the appearance of the outfits or that the match was still several hours away. One suggestion posited that the choice of colors might have been a nod to the anniversary of the French Revolution or the Bourbon family's French origins.
The match between Spain and France was scheduled to take place in Dallas, Texas. The report also noted that players on the French national team had been motivated by controversial remarks from a former Spanish prime minister, who implied that some players were not truly French due to their skin color. Spanish players publicly addressed the issue, emphasizing tolerance and respect, and stating that any player representing the French national team is French. The French Embassy in Spain also condemned the remarks, providing a factual rebuttal regarding the players' nationalities and birthplaces.
Princess Leonor recently concluded intensive Air Force training, receiving the title of Adoptive Daughter of San Javier and the Gold Medal of the Town. Her training included parachuting and piloting an F5 fighter jet. As the heir to the throne, she is undertaking training across different branches of the armed forces. Later this year, Princess Leonor is set to begin a four-year university degree in Political Science at the Carlos III University of Madrid.