January 11, 1935
Infanta Beatriz of Spain and her fiance, Don Alessandro, Prince Torlonia, attended a pre-wedding reception in their honor at the Grand Hotel in Rome.
According to the Associated Press's account, the reception was a "brilliant assemblage, representing royalty and wealth." Spanish and Italian aristocrats, European nobility and government officials "thronged the Grand Hotel for the event."
Nearly 1000 people, including forty-seven royals, attended the reception given by Beatriz's father, the deposed King Alfonso XIII of Spain.
The couple, who will marry on Monday, have received more than one thousand wedding gifts, but "none inspire the Infanta and her Prince with greater pride than the household service presented by the Spanish people." This gift was "purchased by voluntary subscription throughout Spain."
Infanta Beatriz will look like a painting by Velasquez when she marries. She will wear a "simplecalce dress with a train seven yards long." The train will be carried by Prince Chigi's two children, "dressed in red velvet."
During the reception, Beatriz, her future husband, along with her father and several witnesses to the marriage, went to a private room and "put their final signatures to the marriage act." This act was accompanied by a "written document which Beatriz gave her father renouncing all claims to the throne."
It was also announced that Beatriz will "two precious sets of jewels," given to her by her father. One gift is Empress Maria Theresia of Austria's earrings, and the other gift is a set of string pearls, which once belonged to Alfonso's mother, Maria Cristina. The pearls weigh twelve pounds.
The newlyweds will have a "hurried honeymoon in the United States," as they plan to return to Rome in March for the marriage of Beatriz's brother, Don Jaime, to Emanuela Dampierre.
The bride's mother, Queen Victoria Eugenia, will not be attending the wedding. Her decision to not travel to Rome gives further credence to the rumors of an impending separation between her and Alfonso.
Don Alessandro is half-American. He is the son of the late Don Marino, Prince Torlonia, and Elsie Moore of New York City. He was educated at the Pomfret School in Pomfret, Connecticut, and attended Princeton University.
Beatriz and Alessandro will travel to London after the wedding to see Victoria Eugenia, before sailing to the United States.
The AP is also reporting that that sources close to King Alfonso acknowledge that the reports of Victoria Eugenia seeking a legal separation are true.
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