Karen - agree with you on this completely and said as much to someone else over the Franco-Iberian page. Another point here I think is relevant in planning of royal attendance: a sports event however important some may view it to be, still has an unknown outcome until its final days, whereas at the same time the major figures in a monarchy very likely have a set schedule of events for that same month or time frame that cannot just be quickly put to one side for the heir to the throne to jet off halfway round the globe for a 24 hour photo opportunity. Nothing lost at all in the outcome on this occasion exceot avoiding proximity to the lurid outcome.
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Personally in hindsight I'm glad there was no British Royal representation at the match. No-one has been caught up in the fallout that has happened in Spain and FIFA re the actions of one Spanish representative.