Monday, February 3, 2014

Prince Alfonso of Bourbon-Two-Sicilies dead at 62

February 3, 1964

Reuters is reporting the death of Prince Alfonso of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria, a nephew of the late King Alfonso XIII of Spain. 

He underwent an operation last week in a Madrid hospital.   Prince Alfonso was 62 years old.

He was the eldest child of the late Infanta Mercedes of Spain, eldest sister of Alfonso XIII.  She was styled as Princess of Asturias from her birth until her death following childbirth.  Her father, King Alfonso XII, died in 1885, when she was a small child.  Her mother, Queen Maria Cristina, was pregnant with her third child, at the time of her husband's death.  She gave birth to King Alfonso in May 1886. 

On Valentine's Day in 1901,  Mercedes married Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies.  He was created an Infant of Spain, as were their three children.  Mercedes died in 1904, shortly after giving birth to their daughter, Infanta Isabel Alfonsa.

Although he was not styled as Prince of Asturias,  Prince Alfonso was the heir presumptive to the Spanish throne until King Alfonso's wife, Queen Victoria Eugenie, gave birth to their first child, Alfonso, in 1907.

In 1936, Prince Alfonso married Princess Alicia of Bourbon-Parma.  He is survived by his wife, and three children,  Princess Teresa, Prince Carlos, who succeeds his father as Duke of Calabria, and Princess Inés.

No comments: