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After watching season 4 episode 8 of this amazing show, I suddenly noticed that one man was missing during the final part of the episode. It's Prince Tommen. But why?

It's clear why he was absent during the trial itself - he was not the judge, and he could have affected the jury by his mere presence.

But why would he miss the fight? It involves

the fate of his elder brother and his own uncle.

Why on earth would he not go to the fight? The whole small council was present, so he could not be busy with state affairs at that moment.

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    Prince Tommen recused himself from the trial of Tyrion Lannister at the very beginning . The trial wasn't over until the end of Trial by Combat. So he could,should,would not attend the fight also
    – KharoBangdo
    Jul 9, 2014 at 9:52
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    The trial was for "King's Justice". In normal circumstance, King would head the panel of judges & give out the verdict & sentencing. But Tommen recused himself from this trial, so Hand of the King was delivering King's Justice in his stead. It would not be appropriate for the King, who recused himself, to sit through a Trial by Combat as a mere spectator. That was my point
    – KharoBangdo
    Jul 9, 2014 at 10:30
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    @CyanAngel - No. In a tourney death is the exception. An unfortunate accident. Knights fighting in a tourney use blunted weapons and tourney lances that shatter on impact.
    – System Down
    Jul 9, 2014 at 18:38
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    @system down we've clearly been watching different shows lol
    – CyanAngel
    Jul 9, 2014 at 20:39
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    @CyanAngel The death of Ser Hugh of the Vale at the Tourney of the Hand was a deviation from normal, and most likely occurred only because Ser Gregor felt like killing someone. Like System Down says, they do not fight with real weapons.
    – TLP
    Jul 9, 2014 at 22:39

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Tommen is absent in the books as well. Tyrion notes that:

King Tommen was not in evidence; for that, at least, Tyrion was grateful.

According to the ASOS appendix, Tommen is a boy of eight years old. And for what it's worth he is described by everyone as a "sweet boy." Tywin, Cersei, etc must have decided it would not be appropriate to have him watch two men fight each other to the death, potentially condemning his uncle to death as well.

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