Victoria Eugenia de Battenberg-Wedding Anniversary: 2012

www.queenenaofspain.blogspot.com

Queen Victoria
Eugenia Julia Ena de
Battenberg, ("Ena with Irises")
in a portrait by
de Laszlo, 1912, age 25.

King Alfonso XIII de Borbon
& Austria, from a Life
Magazine photo, age 32.

In 1905, during a Royal visit to the Court of St. James, King Alfonso XIII had a chance to look upon the
face of Princess Victoria Eugenia Julia Ena de Battenberg and instantly become smitten with her. After a long-distance courtship characterized by his sending her numerous post-cards, Princess Ena broke off another engagement and decided to give Alfonso XIII a go. They were married on May 31, 1906, at the Royal Monastery of San Geronimo in Madrid, Kingdom of Spain. Princess Ena became Queen Victoria Eugenia Julia Ena de Battenberg on said date, until the Spanish monarchs were deposed on April 14, 1931. A short time after the wedding, in Burgos, a terrorist's bomb would have taken her life had it not been for a bodyguard who shielded her from the blast and died as a result. The marriage produced 7 children, five boys and two girls. Queen Ena's passing of hemophilia to all 5 boys is said to have alienated King Alfonso XIII's affections (fool!) -although he knew beforehand of the condition and that it might be passed on to their offspring. Neither of the girls inherited the condition. After her estrangement and separation from King Alfonso XIII, she was denied residence in her native Scotland or anywhere in the United Kingdom for reasons known only to English royalty. She lived in exile until her death on April 15, 1969. Her mortal remains rest at El Escorial, Kingdom of Spain. Spain's present monarch, King Juan Carlos, is Queen Ena's grandson.

Sources: http://www.ask.com/wiki/Princess_Victoria_Eugenie_of_Battenberg

De La Cierva, Ricardo, PhD, Professor of the University of Madrid, Francisco Franco: Un Siglo de Espana, Editora Nacional, 1972-1973, Madrid, Page 55.