Mobile World Congress tension between King and Ada Colau

They said he had not condemned the alleged police violence on the day of the disputed independence referendum, October 1, nor shown support for the politicians in jail, who are frequently referred to as 'political prisoners', and had effectively sided with the national government.

King Felipe is required, by dint of his Royal role, to be apolitical, although he has always defended the unity of Spain and is clearly against Catalunya's independence.

An awkward moment was already on the agenda, however, since Ada Colau, as hostess of the MWC opening dinner, had to greet every guest in person.

She described her conversation with the monarch on RAC1 radio.

“The King was very polite and, in summary, told me that his role was simply to defend the Spanish Constitution,” she explained.

Sra Colau, who pointedly did not attend the King's reception on the first day of the MWC, replied to the King: “The Constitution can be defended in many different ways, and I expected more empathy and a more conciliatory tone in your speech following October 1.”

Colau supported the referendum, but does not agree with Catalunya's independence.

She said she asked the King, during the meal, to 'try to understand' that the situation was 'unusual and difficult' and that 'people are very damaged by it all'.

“We've always been the ones calling for dialogue. I said as much to the King: things have to be resolved through dialogue and democracy, and that's totally incompatible with the police action seen on October 1. And that on October 3 in the King's speech, we were expecting a very different response from him, and not for him to sanction the violence.”

MP in Catalunya Enric Millo said on Twitter that he had been a 'direct witness' to the conversation between Colau and the King, and expressed his wish for their talk to 'help return institutional relations to normal'.

Colau said that the dinner was 'very tense' and that the King 'did not speak to her or Torrent at any time', although she admits that at events like this 'it is not easy to talk' and 'normally you only speak to the person sitting next to you'.

She assured the King that her and Torrent's decision not to attend what she called 'the hand-kissing ceremony' for the monarch was 'nothing personal', but merely a political expression and a symbolic gesture to reflect the ill feeling in the region's society for his response to October 1.

A series of demonstrations took place in the street during the dinner, protesting over the King's visit, but Colau said: “Everyone has the right to demonstrate, although the Mossos d'Esquadra [Catalunya's regional military police] had to keep watch over the venue for safety reasons'.

She has asked for full written reports about 'what went on outside' during the dinner.

In response to the Spanish government's comments that her and Torrent's 'attitude' to the King could place Barcelona's playing host to the MWC in jeopardy in the future, Colau said: “Nobody has questioned that. There's a firm commitment and a contract for Barcelona to host the MWC until 2023 inclusive.

“All institutions, including the State government, are working to ensure Barcelona keeps the MWC.