Spain's ageing king-in-exile dined with friends at one of London's most exclusive private clubs this week, and watched Real Madrid beat Chelsea 2-0.
There was, however, no lunch with King Charles III during a whirlwind visit to the British capital for Juan Carlos -- although it was rumoured the distant cousins might meet, since the former Spanish monarch won't be attending Charles and Camilla's coronation in May.
Now, a less-than-warm welcome awaits Juan Carlos in his homeland, where he arrived Wednesday for only his second visit, after three years of self-imposed exile in the Middle East.
His family -- King Felipe and Queen Letizia -- have made it clear they're not amused with the trip, and there's no meeting scheduled between father and son in the diary at the Zarzuela Palace either: something which has been interpreted as a clear sign of an ongoing rupture between the two.