30 years ago, Infanta Elena of Spain married Don Jaime de Marichalar y Sáenz de Tejada! Royal Guests and Relatives from around the world joined the Spanish Royal Family for the spectacular Wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Lugo, in Seville, on this day in 1995, 30 years ago, following a Gala Dinner at Villamanrique Palace the night before.
The Infanta decided to get married in the city of Seville as homage to her paternal grandmother, the Countess of Barcelona, who, after spending her childhood in this city, had such a special bond with it. However, as in 1935 the Spanish Royal Family were living in exile, the Princess was not able to get married in the Capital of Andalusia. Infanta Elena’s religious ceremony took place at the City’s Cathedral, one of the biggest and most remarkable Catholic temples in the world. The Spanish Royal Family walked in Procession from the neighbouring Real Alcázar de Sevilla to the Cathedral, except for Doña María de las Mercedes who arrived by carriage.
Afterwards, the Infanta and the new Duke of Lugo rode through carriage to the Divino Salvador’s Church, where the pantheon of the Countess of Barcelona’s family is. There, the Bride placed her bridal bouquet besides Nuestro Padre Jesús de la Pasión and Nuestra Señora de la Merced.
This moment was followed by some Official Photographs with all the royal relatives and heads of state present at the ceremony, before a Luncheon was served at the Real Alcázar de Sevilla.
Five Kings, Eight Queens and the Heirs of Britain, Sweden, The Netherlands, Spain and Jordan were among the Royal Guests and Relatives who joined the Spanish Royal Family.
Infanta Elena wore an elegant square-neckline gown with French sleeves designed by Petro Valverde, and created from natural silk, embroidered with naturalistic motifs on the sleeves, chest, and waist. To complete her bridal look, the new Duchess of Lugo wore the Marichalar Diamond Tiara, a pair of Diamond and Pearl Earrings, on loan from Queen Sofia, and Infanta Isabel’s Diamond and Pearl Bracelet.
Queen Sofia (wearing the Pearl Necklace and Brooch from theJoyas de Pasar Collection) and the Prince of Asturias.
The Infanta Cristina (wearing Infanta Isabel’s Pearl Brooch) and her cousin, Juan Gómez Acebo.
The Infanta Pilar, Duchess of Badajoz, wearing her Diamond Clip Brooches, and her son Bruno Gómez Acebo.
The Infanta Margarita, Duchess of Soria and Hernani, accompanied by her husband, Don Carlos Zurita.
Infante Carlos, Duke of Calabria, and his wife, Princes Anne of Orléans (wearing the Habsburg Diamond Buttons as pendants).
Prince Pedro Gastao and Princess Esperanza of Orléns-Braganza, Infanta Alicia (wearing Queen Marie Antoinette’s Diamond Bracelets and Pearl Necklace) and Infanta Maria Cristina, Countess of Marone.
Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands and her sons, the Prince of Orange,Prince Friso, and Prince Constantjin.
The Sultan of Brunei.
Queen Paola(wearing her Ruby Floral Brooch) and the then Duke of Brabant.
Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte of Luxembourg and her children, Prince Henri and Princess Maria Teresa, Princess Margaretha and Prince Philippe of Liechtenstein, Princess Marie Astrid and Archduke Carl Christian of Habsburg, and Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden
Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Martha-Louise of Norway.
Princess Marie of Liechtenstein and her daughter, Princess Tatiana.
King Constantine II of Greeceand Queen Anne Marie, Princess Irene, Princess Alexia, Crown Prince Pavlos, Marie-Chantal Miller, Prince Nikolaos, and Princess Katherine.
Prince Rainier and Prince Albert of Monaco.
The Prince of Wales.
Empress Farah of Iran
Queen Noor of Jordan
King Simeon and Queen Margarita of Bulgaria (wearing Queen Giovanna’s Pearl Brooch) with their children, Prince Kardam, Prince Konstantin and his wife, Prince Kubrat and his wife, Prince Kiril and his wife, and Princess Kalina.
King Michael and Queen Anne of Romania (in her Sapphire Suite).
Archduke Otto and Achduchess Regina of Austria with her son Archduke Georg. Archduke Karl and his wife, Francesca.
Crown Prince Hassan and Princess Sarvath of Jordan.
The Countess of Paris.
The Prince and Princess of Naples and their son, the Prince of Venice, and Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy.
Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia and her mother, Princess Leonida Bagration.
Archduchess Sophie of Austria and her husband, Prince Mariano Hugo of Windisch-Graetz.
Numerous relatives of the King of Spain were also present, namely the Prince and the Princesses of Orléans-Borbon, Princess Sandra Torlonia, Countess Maria Teresa Marone, Princess Tessa and Princess Cristina of Bavaria, the Princes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and their families, the Count and Countess Zamoisky, Princess Gloria Orléans-Braganza and the Duke of Seborge.
Also in attendance, were the Duke of Braganza, Aga Khan IV,Alix, Princess Napoléon, the Margrave and Margarine of Baden, Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia, Crown Prince and Princess of Cambodia, and Princess Lalla Hasma of Morocco, Prince Amedeo of Savoy, Duke of Aosta and Princess Silvia and their son and daughters, Prince Ernst August von Hannover, Prince Friedrichof Prussia, Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld, the Prince Lorenz, Archduke of Austria-Este, Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and her husband, Prince Max of Bavaria and Prince Moritz of Hesse, Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Princess Benedikte of Denmark and their daughters. Prince Michael and Princess Marina of Greece and their daughters, Princess Olga and Princess Alexandra, and Duke Carl and Duchess Diane of Wurttemberg, and their children, Duke Eberhard, Duchess Fleur and Duchess Mathilde and her husband, Count Enrich of Waldburg-Zeil.
This article was written by assistant editor, David Rato, who runs the Spanish Royal Jewels account on Instagram!
Marichalar Tiara
Spanish Floral Tiara
Prussian Diamond Tiara
Sapphire Flower Suite
Countess of Barcelona’s Pearl Bracelet
Four Kings and Eight Queens led the Royal Guests and Relatives from around the world who joined the Spanish Royal Family for a spectacular Gala Dinner at Villamanrique de la Condesa’s Palace, on this day in 1995, 30 years ago, on the eve of the Wedding of Infanta Elena of Spain and Don Jaime de Marichalar y Sáenz de Tejada.
King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, joined by their three children, then-Prince of Asturias, Infanta Cristina and Infanta Elena, as well as by Jaime de Marichalar, and his mother, the Dowager Countess of Ripalda, as they received the distinguished guests at the Palace’s Main pateo. The dinner was served in the main rooms of Villamanrique’s Palace, where the guests were sitting in round tables.
Around three hundred royal guests attended a Pre-Wedding Banquet hosted by Prince Pedro Gastão and Princess Esperanza of Orléans-Braganza, paternal great-uncle and great-aunt of the bride, at their property, in the outskirts of the city of Seville. This Palace has been the Andalusian gathering site for the Orleans Family for almost over two centuries.
King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, together with Queen Noor of Jordan, Queen Paola of the Belgians, Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands, the Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, and King Constantine II of Greece and Queen Anne Marie.
Infanta Elena and Jaime de Marichalar, together with Prince Albert of Monaco, Prince Henri and Princess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, and Prince Hassan and Princess Sarvath of Jordan.
The Prince of Asturias together with Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte of Luxembourg, King Michael and Queen Anne of Romania, King Simeon and Queen Margarita of Bulgaria, Princess Marie of Liechtenstein and the Duke of Brabante.
Infanta Cristina with the Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, the Crown Prince and Princess of Cambodia, and Princess Margaretha and Prince Philippe of Liechtenstein.
The Infanta Elena wore the diamond and pearl drop earrings she received as an 18th birthday present, and a golden bracelet set with diamonds, a wedding gift from her paternal grandmother, the Countess of Barcelona.
King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia (wearing her Emerald Demi-Parure).
The Countess of Barcelona and her sister and brother in law, Princess Esperanza and Prince Pedro.
The Infanta Pilar (wearing Queen Isabella’s Emerald Earrings) and the Infanta Margarita, her husband, the Duke of Soria, and their children, María and Alfonso.
The Infanta Pilar’s eldest daughter, Simoneta (wearing her mother’s Diamond Earrings) and her husband, José Fernández Sastrón.
King Constantine II of Greece and Queen Anne Marie (wearing her part of Queen Alexandrine’s Diamond Sautoir and Queen Frederica’s Diamond Clips), and Princess Irene with Crown Prince Pavlos, and his then-fiancee, Marie-Chantal Miller, with Princess Alexia of Greece.
Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands and her sons, the Prince of Orange,Prince Friso, and Prince Constantjin.
Queen Paola of the Belgians (wearing her Diamond Necklace and Half-Moon Earrings) and her eldest son, the then-Duke of Brabante.
Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte of Luxembourg (wearing Princess Ingeborg’s Emerald Brooch and Queen Astrid’s Emerald Earrings) and her children, Prince Henri and Princess Maria Teresa, Princess Margaretha and Prince Philippe of Liechtenstein, Princess Marie Astrid and Archduke Carl Christian of Habsburg, and Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, and Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Martha-Louise of Norway.
Princess Marie of Liechtenstein (wearing her Diamond Earrings) and her daughter, Princess Tatiana.
Prince Albert of Monaco.
Empress Farah of Iran and Queen Noor of Jordan.
Prince Hassan and Princess Sarvath of Jordan.
King Simeon and Queen Margarita of Bulgaria with their children, Prince Kardam, Prince Konstantin and his wife, Prince Kiril and his wife, and Princess Kalina.
Archduchess Regina of Austria (wearing her Diamond Necklace) with her son Archduke Georg. Archduke Karl and his wife, Francesca.
Archduchess Sophie of Austria and her husband, Prince Mariano Hugo of Windisch-Graetz.
Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Princess Benedikte of Denmark.
The Countess of Paris (wearing her Diamond Riviere, Earrings, and Cross Brooch).
Duke Carl and Duchess Diane of Wurttemberg, and their children, Duke Eberhard and Duchess Mathilde and her husband, Count Enrich of Waldburg-Zeil.
Princess Beatrice of Orleans and the Duke of Braganza.
Prince Michael and Princess Marina of Greece (wearing her Van Cleef and Arpels Parure) and their daughters, Princess Olga and Princess Alexandra.
The Prince and Princess of Naples and their son, the Prince of Venice, and Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy.
Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia and her mother, Princess Leonida Bagration.
The Crown Prince and Princess of Cambodia, and Princess Lalla Hasma of Morocco.
The Aga Khan IV
This article was written by assistant editor, David Rato, who runs the Spanish Royal Jewels account on Instagram!
