When Woody Allen won the Prince of Asturias prize for the arts in 2002, his acceptance speech began: “The late, great American comedian Jack Benny had a phrase for a wonderful, fantastic occasion like this,” the filmmaker began. “I don’t deserve this award, but then, I have diabetes and I don’t deserve that either.”

Mr Allen had probably never heard of the Prince of Asturias Foundation before receiving his award, but he went on to make two films in Spain, one shot in the northern principality that hosts the ceremonies. It was an unexpected but welcome pay-back.