In the beginning of 1939 plans had been made for a glittering Royal wedding in Spain. The bride to be was Infanta Isabel Alfonsa, the youngest child and only daughter of King Alfonso XII and Queen Maria Christina’s eldest daughter Maria de las Mercedes. Isabel Alfonsa’s mother had sadly died after complications caused by the birth of this daughter in 1904. Since then her father Prince Carlos of the Two Sicilies had remarried a Princess of the family of the Pretender to the French throne, Louise d’Orléans. Already well established in Spain the Prince decided to remain in Spain with his new wife which meant that Infanta Isabel Alfonsa was raised together with her two elder brothers, Alfonso and Fernando, in Spain. Having lost her mother at birth the Infanta established a very close relationship with her grandmother. In fact the erstwhile Queen Regent had been heavily involved in the planning of the wedding. But then tragedy struck again. On 6th February the old Queen died with the funeral taking place two days later. Court mourning was declared. Although normally back in those days the period of court mourning would last for up to several months it was decided that the wedding of the late Queen’s grandchild should go ahead. But instead of being a very grand affair as originally planned it was decided to keep it relatively low-key. The date chosen for the wedding was 9th March. It must have been a day with very mixed emotions for the Infanta.
Count Jan Kanty Zamoyski, the bridegroom, came from a very distinguished Polish noble family. On his mother’s side, however, he descended from the exiled Royal House of Two Sicilies. His mother, Princess Maria Carolina of the Two Sicilies, was a granddaughter of King Francis I of the Two Sicilies. His parents had married in 1885 in Paris and were parents to seven children of whom the groom was the youngest.
On the eve of the religious wedding an intimate banquet was hosted by the King for the Royal guests.
The following day a mass was celebrated in the morning for the soul of the recently deceased Queen in the morning. This mass would be the last of the string masses that had been celebrated for the Queen’s soul since her demise. After the service the congregation retired to prepare for the wedding ceremony.
The Chapel at the Royal Palace had been beautifully decorated with carnations, lilacs and large white lilies. All very fragrant flowers and with the latter symbolizing purity, innocence, sincere love and honesty they were perfect decorations for a wedding such as this. In front of the altar the bridal couple took their place flanked by their supporters, the King and Queen. At either side of the altar sat the witnesses. For the bride those were the Prince of Asturias, the Infante Jaime of Spain, the Infante Alfonso (of Borbon), the Infante Alfonso (de Orleans) and the Infante Fernando. For the groom Prince Ranieri, Prince Roman Sanguszko, Count Adam Zamoyski, Count Henry Grochoski and His Excellency the Minister of the Polish Republic to the Kingdom of Spain Jan Perłowski stood as witnesses.
Having gathered in a set of rooms called “the Infanta Isabel rooms”, some minutes before eleven o’clock the bridal procession was put in motion. A small detachment of Halberdiers was lining the gallery leading to the Royal Chapel. As the mourning for the late Queen had been lifted for the day the Halberdiers were dressed in their splendid gala uniforms.
Members of the Royal Household and other courtiers walked behind the Royal persons and their families. This string of personages was headed by the Camarera Mayor del Palacio (“First Lady of the Bedchamber”) the Duchess of San Carlos. Next followed the female courtiers called “Damas de la Reina” attached to the various Royal ladies; the Marchioness of Santa Cristina was attached to Her Majesty while the Marchioness of Camarasa was attached to Infanta Louise. The Marchioness of Argüelles was attached to Infanta Isabel, the Marchioness of Miraflores to Infanta Beatrice, the Duchess of Lécera to Infanta Christina, Countess de Villagonzalo to Infanta Maria de las Mercedes, the Duchess of Santa Elena to Infanta Maria Louise, the Marchioness of Villanueva y Geltrú to Infanta Eulalia and the Marchioness of Argüeso to Infanta Beatrice of Orléans. Immediately behind these ladies followed the Ladies-in-waiting to the Her Majesty and Their Royal Highnesses
From the Spanish Government the Prime Minister, Lieutenant-General Miguel Primo de Rivera, Marquis de Estella and the Minister of Justice and Worship Galo Ponte y Escartín attended. Present in the chapel were also the Counselor of the Polish Legation, the Mayor of Seville Nicolás Díaz Molero together with a representative of the Maestranza of Seville. In total about 100 persons attended the religious service.
The ceremony was conducted by the Archbishop of Toledo, Primate of Spain, Cardinal Pedro Segura y Sáenz.
The bride looked lovely in white. Her gown was made of shimmering charmeuse and from the waist up it was adorned with orange blossoms. The rich laced veil was the same that had been worn by the Queen at her wedding to Alfonso XIII and it had originally belonged to Queen Isabel II. Due to the special circumstances the Infanta had decided not to wear any jewels nor does she appear to have worn any Orders although she was a Dame of the Order of Queen Maria Luisa.
Escorting the bride was the King and he looked very smart in his gala uniform of an Admiral in the Royal Spanish Navy. With this he wore the Collars of the Order of the Golden Fleece and the Order of Carlos III. The Breast Star of the latter was pinned to his uniform. Across his chest (from the right shoulder to the left hip) he wore the Order of the White Eagle. This was referred to in various news outlets as “the Polish Order” and the Order of the White Eagle is the Polish Order that ranks the highest. The King had been made a Knight of this Order back in 1922. Since the groom was of a Polish noble family it was only fitting that the King would wear this particular Order to this wedding. Some of the coloured versions of the group photo taken in connection with the wedding, however, can be misleading as it looks like the Sash worn by the King is more of a yellow-ish or orange colour. This could be mistaken for the German Order of the Black Eagle, which the King also had been awarded.
Regal to say the least was Queen Victoria Eugenia who had chosen a court gown in an exquisite silver tissue for the occasion. The laced veil worn over her hair was topped by a large tiara of Diamonds and Turquoises. Her Majesty also wore other jewels set with the same gems as well as her famous long sautoir of large solitaire Diamonds. Across her chest could be seen the Sash of the Order of Queen Maria Luisa.
The bride’s step-mother Princess Carlos of Two Sicilies (born Princess Louise d’Orléans) wore white combined with a Diamond and Pearl tiara, a rather high “colliers de chien” (choker) of several rows of small Pearls and Pearl ornaments. She had already been created a Dame of the Order of Queen Maria Luisa back in 1907, but looking at the photos from the event she seems to be wearing another Sash when compared to all the other Spanish Royal ladies. The Breast Star pinned to her gown is of the Order of Military Merit, a rather unusual honour at that time for a lady.
Infanta Isabel Alfonsa’s father Infante Carlos, Prince of Two Sicilies donned the gala uniform of a Spanish General. Amongst his decorations could be seen the Collars of the Order of the Golden Fleece and the Order of Carlos III. His Sash is the one belonging to the Order of Military Merit with Red Decoration of which he is also wearing the Breast Star (Grand Cross, 1910).
Count Jan Zamoyski’s mother was also dressed in white. Born a Princess of Two Sicilies Countess Andrzej Zamoyska was part of the extensive Bourbon family and as such also a relative to the father of the bride. She reportedly wore Diamond jewels, but from the photos it looks like she was not wearing a tiara. According to official sources the Countess was awarded the Order of Queen Maria Luisa on 14th March 1929. But, again from the photos, she is seen wearing the Sash from this Order already at the wedding.
In addition to white and silver green seems to have been one of the other prominent colours at this event. Of course there were the green coming from the flowers and the palms placed in and outside the chapel. But the green was also reflected in many of the magnificent jewels worn as well as in the dress of some of the attendees.
For instance the two aunts of the King attending the wedding, Infantas Isabel and Eulalia, wore emerald jewels. Infanta Isabel, once also titled Princess of Asturias, wore her Mellerio Emerald tiara which was inherited by her grandniece Infanta Maria Christina, daughter of King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenia. She combined this with other Diamond and Emerald jewels in her collection. Like the Queen the Infanta wore a court dress of silver tissue and the Sash and Breast Star of the Order of Queen Maria Luisa. Her sister Infanta Eulalia, Duchess of Galliera, had chosen a white gown with precious lace trimmings. With this she wore her Diamond and cabochon Emerald tiara together with a brooch, necklace and other ornaments set with the same type of stones. She also donned the Sash and Breast Star of the Order of Maria Luisa.
Another of the Royal ladies who had gone for emeralds was Princess Maria Immaculata of Saxony. Born a Princess of Two Sicilies she had married Prince Johan George of Saxony in 1906, a younger brother of King Frederick Augustus III. With the King being divorced from his wife Princess Maria Immaculata effectively acted as Saxony’s first lady. And as such she had access to some of the stunning jewels in the Royal Family’s collection. Once such set of jewels were the magnificent Emeralds of King Frederick Augustus I the Strong. They had been set in a grand tiara, a necklace and other ornaments. The King’s ex-wife, when she was still part of the Royal Family, had had access to these historic jewels but apparently she was not very impressed with them. She reportedly therefore asked for permission to alter the set, which she did once the “ok” had been given. These altered pieces were the ones now worn by Princess Maria Immaculata for this occasion in Spain. This could actually be the last known appearance of the set as it has not been seen photographed since. It could have shared the fate of so many other valuable jewels that were stolen, or “lost”, during World War II. And though they were not reported wearing any emerald jewels both Princess Pedro de Alcântara of Orléans-Braganza (née Countess Elizabeth Dobrženský von Dobrženitz) and her daughter Princess Isabel of Orléans-Braganza were seen in green. They had chosen green fabrics for their gowns which they then combined with Diamond jewels.
To see an overview of the Royal guests attending, press here to be taken to the next page.
After the wedding ceremony a wedding breakfast was held at one o’clock. Not wanting to use the ostentatious State Dining Room a table for the Royal guests was arranged in the smaller Daily Dining Room with another table for the Palace aides and other guests placed in the adjoining Hall of Arms. The tables were delicately decorated with beautiful white flowers. At the Royal table the King sat at the centre at one side of the table. To his left sat the bride who was flanked on the other side by her newlywed Count. To the Count’s right sat Infanta Louise, the step-mother of the bride. Next seat was occupied by the Infanta Maria de las Mercedes who had the Infante Fernando to her right. Then followed Princess Isabel of Orléans, Prince Roman Sanguszko, Countess Adam Samoyska and Count Ladislas Sobanski. To the left of His Majesty sat Countess André Zamoyska, Infante Carlos, Infanta Isabel, the Cardinal, Infanta Maria Luisa, Infante Alfonso of Orléans, Princess Ranieri, Count Adam Zamoyski, Countess Teresa Zamoyska and Princess Maria de las Mercedes.
The Queen sat directly opposite the King. To her right sat Prince Johan George of Saxony, the Duchess of Guise, the Prince of Asturias then Infanta Beatrice, Infante Luis Alfonso, Infanta Eulalia, Prince Ranieri, Princess Isabel, the Polish Minister to Spain and Countess Ladislas Sobanska. On the Queen’s left were placed Prince Pedro of Orléans-Braganza, Princess Maria Immaculata of Saxony then Infante Jaime, Infanta Maria Christina, Infante Jose Eugenio, Infanta Beatrice of Orléans, Prince Carlos, Countess Rosa de Brzozoska, Count Grochoski and Princess Maria de los Dolores.
Menu:
Soupe Henri IV
Oeuf feuillantine
Chapon au riz, sauce jaune
Longe de veau au beurre
Pomes de terre – Petits pois
Jambon d´York a la gèlé
Macedoine des fruits au sorbet
Biscuit chantilly
Wines: Jerez oloroso Rivero, Rioja clarete 1901, C.V.N.E. Champagne Pommery_Grèno
Originally a glittering banquet and a reception for the nobility of the Kingdom had also been planned. Due to the sombre circumstances, however, this plan was abandoned. Instead a smaller dinner was hosted by Their Majesties for their Royal guests and Palace aides in the evening.
REGAL EVENTS 