THE SPANISH ROYAL FAMILY
The House of Bourbon is headed by King Juan Carlos I, who came to rule in November 1975 upon the death of dictator Francisco Franco. The King is much admired for his success in transitioning Spain from a dictatorship to a democracy, and supporters of the King are known as Juan Carlists. The King is married to Greek-born Princess Sophia. The couple have three children: Infanta Elena (b. 1963), Infanta Cristina (b. 1965), and the heir to the throne, Prince Felipe (b. 1968).
Infanta Elena is married to Jaime de Marichalar (b. 1963). Upon their marriage her father bestowed them the title of the Duchess and Duke of Lugo. The couple have two children: Felipe Marichalar y de Borbón (b. 1998, dubbed "Froilán" by the press) and Victoria Marichalar y de Borbón (b. 2000).
Infanta Cristina is married to Olympian handball player Iñaki Urdangarín Liebaert (b. 1968). Upon their marriage they were conferred the title of the Duchess and Duke of Palma Mallorca. The couple have four children: Juan Urdangarín y de Borbón (b. 1999, dubbed "Juanito" by the press), Pablo Urdangarín y de Borbón (b. 2000), Miguel Urdangarín y de Borbón (b. 2002), and Irene Urdangarín y de Borbón (b. 2005).
Prince Felipe, the Prince of Asturias, is married to former journalist Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano (b. 1972). Their union caused some controversy because Letizia was previously married and divorced, which is prohibited by the Catholic faith, of which the Spanish royal family follows. The couple have one daughter, Infanta Leonor Borbón y Ortiz (b. 2005), and the couple are expecting a second daughter in May 2007.
The King has two sisters and a brother. Infanta Pilar Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias, the Duchess of Badajoz (b. 1936), Infanta Margarita Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias, the Duchess of Soria (b. 1939), and Infante Alfonso of Spain (1941-1956).
Infanta Pilar is married to Luis Gomez-Acebo y de Estrada (1934-1991). The couple have five children: Simoneta Gomez-Acebo y de Borbón (b. 1968), Juan Gomez-Acebo y de Borbón (b. 1969), Bruno Gomez-Acebo y de Borbón (b. 1971), Beltrán Gomez-Acebo y de Borbón (b. 1973), and Fernando Gomez-Acebo y de Borbón (b. 1974).
Infanta Margarita is married to Carlos Zurita y Delgado (b. 1943). The couple have two children: Alfonso Zurita y de Borbón (b. 1973) and María Zurita y de Borbón (b. 1975).
The House of Bourbon is headed by King Juan Carlos I, who came to rule in November 1975 upon the death of dictator Francisco Franco. The King is much admired for his success in transitioning Spain from a dictatorship to a democracy, and supporters of the King are known as Juan Carlists. The King is married to Greek-born Princess Sophia. The couple have three children: Infanta Elena (b. 1963), Infanta Cristina (b. 1965), and the heir to the throne, Prince Felipe (b. 1968).
Infanta Elena is married to Jaime de Marichalar (b. 1963). Upon their marriage her father bestowed them the title of the Duchess and Duke of Lugo. The couple have two children: Felipe Marichalar y de Borbón (b. 1998, dubbed "Froilán" by the press) and Victoria Marichalar y de Borbón (b. 2000).
Infanta Cristina is married to Olympian handball player Iñaki Urdangarín Liebaert (b. 1968). Upon their marriage they were conferred the title of the Duchess and Duke of Palma Mallorca. The couple have four children: Juan Urdangarín y de Borbón (b. 1999, dubbed "Juanito" by the press), Pablo Urdangarín y de Borbón (b. 2000), Miguel Urdangarín y de Borbón (b. 2002), and Irene Urdangarín y de Borbón (b. 2005).
Prince Felipe, the Prince of Asturias, is married to former journalist Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano (b. 1972). Their union caused some controversy because Letizia was previously married and divorced, which is prohibited by the Catholic faith, of which the Spanish royal family follows. The couple have one daughter, Infanta Leonor Borbón y Ortiz (b. 2005), and the couple are expecting a second daughter in May 2007.
The King has two sisters and a brother. Infanta Pilar Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias, the Duchess of Badajoz (b. 1936), Infanta Margarita Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias, the Duchess of Soria (b. 1939), and Infante Alfonso of Spain (1941-1956).
Infanta Pilar is married to Luis Gomez-Acebo y de Estrada (1934-1991). The couple have five children: Simoneta Gomez-Acebo y de Borbón (b. 1968), Juan Gomez-Acebo y de Borbón (b. 1969), Bruno Gomez-Acebo y de Borbón (b. 1971), Beltrán Gomez-Acebo y de Borbón (b. 1973), and Fernando Gomez-Acebo y de Borbón (b. 1974).
Infanta Margarita is married to Carlos Zurita y Delgado (b. 1943). The couple have two children: Alfonso Zurita y de Borbón (b. 1973) and María Zurita y de Borbón (b. 1975).
Labels: Royalty
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