Predecessor Manfredo de Borbon Siblings Juan Carlos I of Spain Name Infanta Duchess | Religion Roman Catholicism House Bourbon | |
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Issue Alfonso Zurita y de BorbonMaria Zurita y de Borbon Mother Princess Maria Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies Parents Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona, Princess Maria de las Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies Uncles Infante Alfonso, Duke of Calabria, Don Carlos of the Two Sicilies Children Maria Sofia Emilia Carmen Zurita y de Borbon, Alfonso Juan Carlos Zurita y de Borbon Similar People Carlos Zurita - Duke of S, Infanta Pilar - Duchess, Juan Carlos I of Spain, Princess Maria de las Merce, Infante Juan - Count of | ||
Infanta Margarita, Duchess of Soria (Margarita María de la Victoria Esperanza Jacoba Felicidad Perpetua de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias; born 6 March 1939), is the younger sister of King Juan Carlos and aunt of the reigning King Felipe VI of Spain.
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Early life
Infanta Margarita was born in Rome as the younger daughter of Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona, and Princess María de las Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. Margarita has been blind since birth.
Marriage
She married the physician Carlos Zurita y Delgado on 12 October 1972 in Estoril. They have two children:
Succession
Margarita renounced her right of succession upon marriage.
On 6 January 1979, the Infanta's cousin, Manfredo de Borbón, 1st Duke of Hernani, died and willed his ducal title to be inherited by Margarita. The King granted this request, and on 27 May 1981, she became 2nd Duchess of Hernani with accompanying dignity Grandee of Spain. The peerage title referres to the town Hernani, Spain. The next month, on 23 June 1981, she was also granted a higher dukedom for life by the king, and became Duchess of Soria (referring to the city Soria in Spain).
Activities
In 1989, alongside her husband, they created the Fundación Cultural Duques de Soria (The Duke and Duchess of Soria Cultural Foundation). She's also Honorary President of Madrid's delegation of UNICEF and of the Spanish Heart Foundation.
Titles
The Infanta's style and title in full: Her Royal Highness Doña Margarita María de la Victoria Esperanza Jacoba Felicidad Perpetua de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias de Zurita, Infanta of Spain, Duchess of Soria, Grande de España, Duchess of Hernani, Grande de España.