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Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Alfonso will not cede rights

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 October 5, 1935

Former King Alfonso XIII of Spain has "no intention of relinquishing his claim to the throne" to his "equally dapper son," Infante Don Juan, reports the Associated Press, which based its report on comments made by those close to the former Spanish monarch.

Don Juan is marrying his cousin, Princess Maria de la Mercedes, a daughter of Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, who was created an Infant of Spain following his first marriage to Infanta Mercedes of Spain, elder sister of King Alfonso.  After Mercedes's death in childbirth,  Carlos married Princess Laura of France.  

Don Juan is the third son of Alfonso and his wife, Victoria Eugenia.  His eldest brother, Alfonso, the former Prince of Asturias, renounced his rights two years ago when he married a Cuban commoner.  The second son, Don Jaime, also renounced his rights in 1933 due to his disabilities, as he is deaf and mute.

For the past six months, Don Juan has been a student at the University of Florence, where he studied law.  Alfonso had insisted that his son have legal training, after serving for several years with Britain's Royal Navy.  He joined the Royal Navy in 1931 shortly after the collapse of the Spanish monarchy.

This wedding will be far "more elaborate" than the weddings of Juan's sister, Infanta Beatriz, to Prince Alessandro Torlonia, and Don Jaime's wedding to the "charming" Emanuela de Dampierre.  Both were married earlier this year.

The wedding on Saturday with be "accompanied by every colorful ritual of royal and Catholic marriage."   

The newlyweds are planning a six-month honeymoon tour of the world, including a "stop off" in the United States.

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