Royal History: Alfonso XIII Punishes Cousin for Marrying Without His Consent

Infante Alfonso of Spain and Princess
Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Image:
Wikimedia Commons

Madrid, July 17, 1909 - A dispatch from Madrid to the New York Times can reveal that King Alfonso XIII has stripped his cousin, Prince Alfonso of Bourbon-Orleans of his title Infante of Spain, as well as his Spanish honors and decorations after marrying Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha without securing royal consent. The marriage took place last July 15 in Coburg, Germany.

A dispatch from Coburg meanwhile revealed that "State Secretary Von Richter performed the ceremony," which was followed by "a wedding according to the rites of the Catholic Church" at St. Augustin's Church. This was followed by a Protestant wedding at the Edinburgh Castle chapel.

Prince Alfonso was born in Madrid in 1886, the son of Prince Antoine-Louis-Philippe, Duke of Galliera, and of Infanta Eulalia of Spain. He is the great-grandson of Louis-Philippe, the king who was dethroned in 1848.
Meanwhile, Princess Beatrice, born 1884, is the youngest son of Prince Alfred,  Duke of Edinburgh, second son of Queen Victoria, who also reigned as Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, making her a cousin to Queen Ena. He died in 1900. Her mother is Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, the only daughter of Czar Alexander II.

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