A simple theory of why Catalonia will not become an independent nation

I saw the political bigwigs here give public speeches.  Normally they go to great care to promote the use of the Catalan language, including by legal means if necessary.

Yet when speaking here in their own Barcelona, in front of the King of Spain, those same bigwigs use the Spanish language, albeit with random Catalonian sentences thrown in or used to close the talk.

Apparently they do not wish to displease the King or force him to wear a translation headset.

If I apply some very naive versions of signaling theory and coalition-building economics, I arrive at the prediction that these people do not intend to secede.