Matchmaking agency commits royal faux pas

The Ashley Madison billboard that went up on Madrid's Gran Vía early Friday morning was taken down just as promptly after city officials said that the famous US matchmaking company didn't have permission from King Juan Carlos to use his image.

The controversial sign showed the king's picture alongside Prince Charles and former US President Bill Clinton under big white letters: "What do these 'royals' have in common?" Under the pictures it answers: "They should have used Ashley Madison."

The agency, which specializes in matching partners for extramarital affairs, was alluding to reported infidelities by the three figures. But in Spain, the king's private life is well guarded. "We were just referring to the rumors that exist [about the king]," said Christoph Kraemer, Ashley Madison's spokesman in Spain.