Infanta Beatriz of Spain
Encyclopedia
The Infanta Beatriz of Spain (Doña Beatriz Isabel Federica Alfonsa Eugenia Cristina María Teresa Bienvenida Ladislàa de Borbón y Battenberg) (22 June 1909 – 22 November 2002) was a daughter of King Alfonso XIII of Spain
and Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg and paternal aunt of the current King Juan Carlos I
.
, San Ildefonso
near Segovia
, Spain. The Spanish Royal Family left the country in 1931, in the face of Republican demonstrations, settling in Paris, before moving to Fontainebleau
.
She was the 1,094th Dame of the Royal Order of Queen Maria Luisa
.
By 1933 King Alfonso and his daughters (Beatriz and Maria Cristina
) had moved to Rome. Their father cautiously warned would-be suitors of the inherent dangers of haemophilia, that affected two of the king's sons (Alfonso
and Gonzalo
). For this reason, Beatriz's engagement of 1931 to Prince Álvaro of Borbón-Orleans, the eldest son of Infante Alfonso, Duke of Galliera
, was broken off.
Mary Elsie Moore.
They were married in Rome
, with Beatriz wearing a 20 ft train, a coronet of orange blossom holding her veil in place, in the presence of King Alfonso, the King
and Queen of Italy and some 52 princes of the royal blood. After the ceremony, the young couple were received by Pope Pius XI
. They had four children:
It was said that the Infanta had charm, a sense of humour, and little of the austerity of her mother, but never lost her regal bearing, and took royal protocol seriously.
This caused her daughters some agony when they met the Duchess of Windsor. The Infanta forbade them to curtsey, and they were forced to make a subtle gesture somewhere between a curtsey and a nervous wriggle, in order to pass the gimlet scrutiny of both their mother and the Duke of Windsor.
She died at her home in Palazzo Torlonia
, Rome
on 22 November 2002 at 93 years 5 months.
Alfonso XIII of Spain
Alfonso XIII was King of Spain from 1886 until 1931. His mother, Maria Christina of Austria, was appointed regent during his minority...
and Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg and paternal aunt of the current King Juan Carlos I
Juan Carlos I of Spain
Juan Carlos I |Italy]]) is the reigning King of Spain.On 22 November 1975, two days after the death of General Francisco Franco, Juan Carlos was designated king according to the law of succession promulgated by Franco. Spain had no monarch for 38 years in 1969 when Franco named Juan Carlos as the...
.
Early life
Infanta Beatriz was born at La GranjaLa Granja (palace)
The Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso is an 18th century palace in the small town of San Ildefonso in the hills near Segovia, 80 km north of Madrid, central Spain, formerly the summer residence of the Kings of Spain since the reign of Philip V...
, San Ildefonso
San Ildefonso
San Ildefonso, or La Granja, or La Granja de San Ildefonso, is a town and municipality in the province of Segovia, Spain, situated some 54 km northwest of Madrid.-History:...
near Segovia
Segovia
Segovia is a city in Spain, the capital of Segovia Province in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is situated north of Madrid, 30 minutes by high speed train. The municipality counts some 55,500 inhabitants.-Etymology:...
, Spain. The Spanish Royal Family left the country in 1931, in the face of Republican demonstrations, settling in Paris, before moving to Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southeast of the centre of Paris. Fontainebleau is a sub-prefecture of the Seine-et-Marne department, and it is the seat of the arrondissement of Fontainebleau...
.
She was the 1,094th Dame of the Royal Order of Queen Maria Luisa
Order of Queen Maria Luisa
The Royal Order of Queen María Luisa is an Order created by Charles IV of Spain by royal decree in April 21 1792 at the request of his wife Queen Maria Luisa, to have a way to reward noble women who distinguished themselves for their services and talents, so it was established as a distinction...
.
By 1933 King Alfonso and his daughters (Beatriz and Maria Cristina
Infanta Maria Cristina of Spain
Infanta Maria Cristina of Spain, Countess of Marone was the fourth child of Alfonso XIII of Spain and Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg and paternal aunt of the current King Juan Carlos I.-Early life:Infanta Maria...
) had moved to Rome. Their father cautiously warned would-be suitors of the inherent dangers of haemophilia, that affected two of the king's sons (Alfonso
Alfonso of Spain, Prince of Asturias
Alfonso, Prince of Asturias Alfonso, Prince of Asturias Alfonso, Prince of Asturias (Alfonso Pío Cristino Eduardo Francisco Guillermo Carlos Enrique Eugenio Fernando Antonio Venancio Borbón y Battenberg (Madrid, 10 May 1907 – Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida, 6 September 1938), was an Infante of...
and Gonzalo
Infante Gonzalo of Spain
Infante Gonzalo of Spain was the fourth surviving son and youngest child of King Alfonso XIII of Spain and his wife Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg....
). For this reason, Beatriz's engagement of 1931 to Prince Álvaro of Borbón-Orleans, the eldest son of Infante Alfonso, Duke of Galliera
Infante Alfonso, Duke of Galliera
Alfonso de Orleans y Borbón, Infante of Spain, Duke of Galliera was a Spanish military aviator.-Early life:...
, was broken off.
Marriage and issue
On 14 January 1935, she married a member of Italian nobility, Don Alessandro Torlonia, Prince of Civitella-Cesi. Torlonia was the son of Don Marino Torlonia, 4th prince of Civitella-Cessi and the AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Mary Elsie Moore.
They were married in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, with Beatriz wearing a 20 ft train, a coronet of orange blossom holding her veil in place, in the presence of King Alfonso, the King
Victor Emmanuel III of Italy
Victor Emmanuel III was a member of the House of Savoy and King of Italy . In addition, he claimed the crowns of Ethiopia and Albania and claimed the titles Emperor of Ethiopia and King of Albania , which were unrecognised by the Great Powers...
and Queen of Italy and some 52 princes of the royal blood. After the ceremony, the young couple were received by Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
. They had four children:
- Her Excellency Doña Sandra Vittoria Torlonia dei Principi di Civitella-Cesi (b. 14 February 1936) married Count Clemente Lecquio di Assaba (9 December 1925 – 28 June 1971), had issue
- His Excellency Don Marco Alfonso Torlonia dei Principi di Civitella-CesiMarco Torlonia, 6th Prince of Civitella-CesiDon Marco Alfonso Torlonia, 6th Prince of Civitella-Cesi is the current Prince of Civitella-Cesi. He is the son of Alessandro Torlonia, 5th Prince of Civitella-Cesi and his wife, Infanta Beatriz of Spain, daughter of King Alfonso XIII of Spain...
(b. 2 July 1937), later 6th Prince of Civitella-Cesi, married (1) Orsetta Caracciolo di Castegneto (17 May 1940 – 10 March 1968), one son; (2) Philippa McDonald (b. 3 June 1942), one daughter; (3) Blazena Svitakova (b. 16 October 1940), one daughter, born before marriage - His Excellency Don Marino Riccardo Francesco Giuseppe Torlonia dei Principi di Civitella-Cesi (b. 13 December 1939 – 28 December 1995) died unmarried and without issue
- Her Excellency Doña Olimpia Emmanuela Enrichetta Maria Torlonia dei Principi di Civitella-Cesi (b. 27 December 1943) married (m. 16 June 1965) Paul-Annik Weiller (28 July 1933 – 2 November 1998), had six children (including Princess Sibilla of LuxembourgPrincess Sibilla of LuxembourgPrincess Sibilla of Luxembourg , was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France on 12 June 1968.-Family:...
)
Later life
Beatriz lived in Rome for the rest of her life, and when her daughter Olimpia married the late Paul-Annik Weiller, his father secured the Palazzo Torlonia for the family.It was said that the Infanta had charm, a sense of humour, and little of the austerity of her mother, but never lost her regal bearing, and took royal protocol seriously.
This caused her daughters some agony when they met the Duchess of Windsor. The Infanta forbade them to curtsey, and they were forced to make a subtle gesture somewhere between a curtsey and a nervous wriggle, in order to pass the gimlet scrutiny of both their mother and the Duke of Windsor.
She died at her home in Palazzo Torlonia
Palazzo Torlonia
Palazzo Torlonia is a 16th century Early Renaissance town house in Via della Conciliazione, Rome, central Italy...
, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
on 22 November 2002 at 93 years 5 months.