Monday, October 5, 2015

Duke of Calabria is dead at 77

 


HRH Infante Carlos, Duke of Calabria, died today at his farm, La Toledana, in Retuerta, Toledo, Spain.  He was 77 years old.

Don Carlos had been diagnosed with a neurological disease several years ago.  In 2012, he suffered a stroke leaving him nearly incapacitated.

In 1965, Don Carlos married Princess Anne of France, a daughter of Prince Henri, Count of Paris, and his wife, Princess Isabelle de Orleans- Braganza.  The couple had five children, Princess Cristina, Princess Maria, Prince Pedro, Princess Ines, and Princess Victoria.

The late prince was a second cousin of King Juan Carlos of Spain, and the two families were close.   Don Carlos' father, Infante Alfonso, Duke of Calabria, (1901-1964) was the eldest child of Infanta Mercedes of Spain, Princess of Asturias, elder sister of King Alfonso XIII.  and Prince Carlo of Bourbon-Two-Sicilies, who was created an Infant of Spain.  After Mercedes' death in childbirth in 1905,  Prince Carlo married for a second time, to Princess Louise of Orléans, and they had four children, including Princess Maria de las Mercedes, who married Infante Juan of Spain. Count of Barcelona, the parents of King Juan Carlos.

Infante Alfonso and the Count of Barcelona were full first cousins through Prince Carlo's first marriage to the Prince of Asturias.  The Count of Barcelona married Alfonso's younger half-sister.  Thus, Juan Carlos and Infante Carlos were first cousins.




The Duke of Calabria was born at Lausanne on January 16, 1938.  He is the son of the late Duke of Calabria and Princess Alicia of Bourbon-Parma.

The Duke and Duchess of Calabria celebrated their 50th anniversary on May 12, 2015.

He is survived by his wife, Princess Anne,  their five children, and many grandchildren, his sisters, Princesses Teresa and Ines, along with his mother, Princess Alicia, who will celebrate her 98th birthday in November.

The Duke of Calabria is succeeded by his only son, Prince Pedro, Duke of Noto.

http://www.elmundo.es/loc/2015/10/05/5612b46dca474107318b459b.html

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