Royal Guests and Relatives celebrated the Wedding of Infante Juan and Princess María de las Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies with a grand Gala at the Grand Hotel in Rome on this day in 1935, 90 years ago, two days before the Wedding!

Two days before their Wedding, a Banquet was held in honour of Infante Juan and and Princess María de las Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies at the Grand Hotel in Rome, where the exiled King Alfonso XIII had resided in the last years of his life.

The Banquet was held at the Grand Hotel in Rome. Among the more than 6,000 guests invited were the heir to the Italian Crown, the Prince of Piedmont; Prince Christopher of Greece; the princes José Eugenio, Luis and Fernando de Baviera y Borbón;  Don Alfonso de Orléans, and Don Jenaro, Don Raniero and Don Gabriel de Borbón;  the Count of the Andes, the Marquis of Castel Rodrigo;  Prince Pius of Savoy, etc. The images that have emerged from the banquet show the happy newlyweds toasting with champagne with their loved ones.

Princess María de las Mercedes wore Queen Maria Cristina’s Loop Tiara with a Diamond Rivière and Brooch all given as Wedding Gifts by King Alfonso XIII.

Royal Guests and Relatives celebrated the Wedding of Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona and Princess María de las Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies at the Basilica of Santa María de Los Ángeles in Rome, followed by an Audience with the Pope at the Vatican.

Queen Maria Cristina’s Loop Tiara

Spanish Fleur-de-Lys Tiara

The tiara of the fleurs-de-lys, which Alfonso XIll gave to Aunt Ena for the wedding, I only wore once in England for the coronation of the Queen, which was in June 1953. When we were going to leave for Westminster Abbey, I had my small tiara on, and then Queen Victoria said to me: No, you have to wear the one with the fleurs-de-lys. And I obeyed. But as soon as it was all over, I gave it back to her. They had given it to her as a gift and the logical thing is that she would have it as long as she lived. Later, when she died, they gave it to me, but I passed it on to Sofia. Aunt Ena continued to wear it for important events and for some precious photographs”.

Mellerio Shell Tiara

Sapphire Tiara

Diamond Earrings

Queen Isabella II’s Emerald Suite

When Juanito was born, Alfonso XIII gave me a brooch with a huge emerald that had a pair of earrings and ring en suite”.

Pearl Brooch

Ruby Clip Brooch

Pearl Bow Brooch

Pearl Bracelet

Emerald Brooch

Strawberry Leaf Brooches

Diamond Brooches