Infante Juan arrives in Paris

April 22, 1931

Infante Juan, considered to be the heir apparent to the Spanish throne, arrived this morning at 9:15 a.m., at the Gare de Lyon station in Paris.  Juan, the third son of King Alfonso XIII, had traveled overnight from Naples.  He was taken to Fontainebleau, where his mother, Queen Victoria Eugenia, is now living., reports the Associated Press.

Meanwhile, in London, former King Alfonso XIII, traveling in a "big purple limousine today," went shopping, while the members of the House of Commons cheered "an official announcement" by the Foreign Secretary that the British government had recognized the "the new Republican regime at Madrid."

The New York Times reports that King Alfonso "looked tired today," but "appeared as happy as he ever did in his days as reigning King.  He had breakfast with the Duke of Miranda, and read "English and Continental newspapers," and then left his hotel for a "two-hour shopping expedition."  The purple limousine was lent to him by  friend, the Marquess of Londonderry.  He stopped in at several "smart men's shops" on Bond Street, and bought clothes and other items for his "stay in London."

Whenever the purple limousine was sighted, crowds gathered and some shouted "Viva el Rey!"

The King receive only one visitor today: the Marqués Merry de Val, the former Spanish Ambassador to the Court of St. James.

It is understood that Alfonso will be visiting his mother-in-law, Princess Beatrice, at Torquay in the next few days.