Spanish King's photos burned in Barcelona protest

On Thursday evening, day before King Felipe VI's visit to Barcelona, Catalan independence supporters burnt pictures of Spanish head of state in a public square.

Until t long ago burning photos of monarch could result in a prison sentence in Spain.

That changed after European Court of Human Rights ruled in 2018 that act should be protected by freedom of expression and this was a very public rejection of monarch whose far was recently involved in a financial scandal.

Support for Spanish monarchy has dwindled after former King Juan Carlos left country in August, after becoming target of official investigations in Spain and Switzerland into possible financial wrongdoing.

King Felipe VI's visit to Barcelona Friday toger with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez comes after monarch was forced to postpone a previous visit due to security concerns after tensions rose between Catalan separatists and Madrid.

"Tomorrow a man who claims to be King of Spain is coming," said Elisenda Albajes, a Catalan independence supporter. "But it just happens that in Catalonia we don't have a King."