GIVEN the parlous state of its economy, one would think that the Spanish government had better things to do than throw yet another of its periodic hissy-fits over Gibraltar – protesting at the visit to The Rock by Prince Edward to Gibraltar next month as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

It is utterly petty, spiteful and insulting of the Spanish government to block Queen Sophia from attending Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee luncheon at Windsor Castle.

Queen Sophia is a descendant of Queen Victoria, related to our Queen and a cousin of Prince Phillip.

It’s time for the Spanish to grow up and accept the fact (just as the Argentinians should do over their absurd claim to the Falklands) that Gibraltar is and always will be British.

ROBERT READMAN, Norwich Avenue West, Bournemouth