Fifty years have passed since the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cádiz, a significant milestone in the annals of European royal history. On March 8, 1972, Don Alfonso de Borbón y Dampierre, the eldest son of Infante Jaime of Spain, Duke of Segovia, and Emanuela de Dampierre, married Doña María del Carmen Martínez-Bordiú y Franco, the eldest child of Don Cristóbal Martínez-Bordiú y Ortega, 10th Marquis of Villaverde, and Doña María del Carmen Franco y Polo, 1st Duchess of Franco, at the Royal Palace of El Pardo in Madrid1.
The ceremony was attended by a distinguished gathering of European royalty and nobility, including Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofía of Spain with their children, Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace of Monaco, and Princess Désirée of Sweden. The union of the Duke and Duchess of Cádiz was marked by tragedy, however, as their son Francisco de Asís de Borbón y Martinez-Bordiu succumbed to injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident in 1984. The couple's marriage ultimately ended in divorce and annulment, but their legacy remains an important part of Spain's royal history1.
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| The Duke and Duchess of Cádiz. |
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| The couple during their religious wedding. The groom's mother and the bride's grandfather were their witnesses. |
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| Carmen and Alfonso. |
On 8 March 1972, Don Alfonso de Borbón y Dampierre, Duke of Cádiz, and Doña María del Carmen Martínez-Bordiú y Franco were married at the Royal Palace of El Pardo in Madrid. The groom was the eldest son of Infante Jaime of Spain, Duke of Segovia, and Emanuela de Dampierre. The bride was the eldest child of Don Cristóbal Martínez-Bordiú y Ortega, 10th Marquis of Villaverde, and Doña María del Carmen Franco y Polo, 1st Duchess of Franco. The engagement of Don Alfonso and Doña Carmen was announced in December 1971.
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| Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofía of Spain with their children. |
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| Princess Désirée of Sweden. |
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| The Duchess of Alba. |
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| Infante Jaime of Spain and the Begum Aga Khan with Francisco Franco. |
Among the blue-blooded guests were Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofía of Spain with their three children, Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace of Monaco, Prince Bertil of Sweden, Princess Christina of Sweden, Princess Désirée of Sweden, the Begum Aga Khan, and the Duchess of Alba. Other attendees included Imelda Marcos, First Lady of the Philippines, and Juan Perón, the former President of Argentina.
The Duke and Duchess of Cádiz had two children: Don Francisco de Asís de Borbón y Martinez-Bordiu (1972-1984) and Don Luis Alfonso de Borbón y Martinez-Bordiu (b.1974). On 5 February 1984, Alfonso and his sons Francisco and Luis Alfonso were involved in a motor vehicle accident near Pamplona which left the Duke of Cádiz and his sons with severe injuries; Francisco, only eleven years-old, succumbed to his injuries two days after the accident. Don Alfonso and Doña Carmen separated in 1979; they were civilly divorced in 1982 after a decade of marriage. In 1986, the couple was granted an annulment by the Vatican.
As we reflect on the significant milestone of fifty years since the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cádiz, we are reminded of the enduring legacy of their union and the profound impact it had on European royal history. The ceremony, attended by a distinguished gathering of European royalty and nobility, marked a momentous occasion in the lives of Don Alfonso de Borbón y Dampierre and Doña María del Carmen Martínez-Bordiú y Franco, who exchanged vows at the Royal Palace of El Pardo in Madrid on March 8, 1972. The couple's marriage, though ultimately marked by tragedy and ultimately ending in divorce and annulment, remains an important part of Spain's royal history, a testament to the enduring power of love and commitment.
As we look back on this momentous occasion, we are also reminded of the many significant events that have shaped the course of European royal history. From the tumultuous reign of Ferdinand VII to the modern-day reign of Felipe VI, the royal families of Europe have played a crucial role in shaping the course of history. The wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cádiz serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring power of royal families to bring people together and to transcend the boundaries of time and circumstance. As we continue to navigate the complexities of modern royal life, we would do well to remember the lessons of the past and the enduring legacy of the Duke and Duchess of Cádiz, whose union remains a powerful symbol of love and commitment in the face of adversity.
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