Infanta Pilar, Duchess of Badajoz
Infanta Pilar was the eldest daughter of Juan de Borb贸n y Battenberg
and Mar铆a de las Mercedes de Borb贸n y Orleans born on 30 July 1936.
Christening
She was baptized in Cannes, in the church of Rins, with the name
of Mar铆a del Pilar Alfonsa Juana Victoria Luisa Ignacia de Todos
los Santos de Borb贸n y Borb贸n.
of Mar铆a del Pilar Alfonsa Juana Victoria Luisa Ignacia de Todos
los Santos de Borb贸n y Borb贸n.
Her godparents were her paternal grandfather, King Alfonso XIII and
her maternal grandmother the Princess Louise of Orl茅ans, although
Alfonso XIII acted by delegation as he did not want to meet his
wife Queen Victoria Eugenia.
her maternal grandmother the Princess Louise of Orl茅ans, although
Alfonso XIII acted by delegation as he did not want to meet his
wife Queen Victoria Eugenia.
From her birth, as the daughter of the heir to the Crown of Spain she
was given the title of Infanta of Spain with treatment of Royal Highness.
However, the official recognition of that title came when her brother
was already King of Spain.
was given the title of Infanta of Spain with treatment of Royal Highness.
However, the official recognition of that title came when her brother
was already King of Spain.
Childhood
When she was an infant, the family moved to Rome where the Spanish
Royal Family settled in exile. In 1941, after the resignation of Alfonso XIII,
her father became the holder of the dynastic rights of the Spanish Crown in exile.
Royal Family settled in exile. In 1941, after the resignation of Alfonso XIII,
her father became the holder of the dynastic rights of the Spanish Crown in exile.
During World War II she lived at Lausanne in Switzerland, where her
grandmother, Queen Victoria Eugenia, lived. In 1946 the family resettled
at Estoril in Portugal.
grandmother, Queen Victoria Eugenia, lived. In 1946 the family resettled
at Estoril in Portugal.
At the wedding of her brother Juan Carlos I of Spain with Princess
Sof铆a of Greece, in 1962, she was one of eight bridesmaids.
Sof铆a of Greece, in 1962, she was one of eight bridesmaids.
The search for a suitable man
Her family attempted to marry her to Baudouin of Belgium, who ended up
marrying Fabiola de Mora instead.
marrying Fabiola de Mora instead.
Marriage
Pilar needed to renounce her rights of succession to the Spanish throne
to marry a commoner as stipulated by the Pragmatic Sanction of
Charles III on marriages of members of the royal family.
to marry a commoner as stipulated by the Pragmatic Sanction of
Charles III on marriages of members of the royal family.
She married Don Luis G贸mez-Acebo y Duque de Estrada, 2nd
Viscount of La Torre, Grandee of Spain (23 December 1934 – 9 March 1991)
on 5 May 1967 in Lisbon, Portugal at Jer贸nimos Monastery.
Viscount of La Torre, Grandee of Spain (23 December 1934 – 9 March 1991)
on 5 May 1967 in Lisbon, Portugal at Jer贸nimos Monastery.
They had five children:
* Do帽a Mar铆a de F谩tima Simoneta Luisa G贸mez-Acebo y Borb贸n
(31 October 1968)
(31 October 1968)
* Don Juan Filiberto Nicol谩s G贸mez-Acebo y Borb贸n, later 3rd
Viscount of La Torre (6 December 1969)
Viscount of La Torre (6 December 1969)
* Don Bruno Alejandro G贸mez-Acebo y Borb贸n (15 June 1971)
* Don Luis Beltr谩n Ata煤lfo Alfonso G贸mez-Acebo y Borb贸n (20 May 1973)
* Don Fernando Humberto G贸mez-Acebo y Borb贸n (13 September 1974)
Her husband died of lymphatic cancer on 9 March 1991.
Equestrian sport
Pilar de Borb贸n had been supporting international equestrian sport.
She was President of the International Equestrian Federation from 1994 to
2006, succeeded by HRH Princess Haya bint al Hussein.
She was President of the International Equestrian Federation from 1994 to
2006, succeeded by HRH Princess Haya bint al Hussein.
She wrote the foreword of the official Spanish translation of the national
instruction handbook of the German National Equestrian Federation,
T茅cnicas Avanzadas de Equitaci贸n - Manual Oficial de Instrucci贸n de
la Federaci贸n Ecuestre Alemana.
instruction handbook of the German National Equestrian Federation,
T茅cnicas Avanzadas de Equitaci贸n - Manual Oficial de Instrucci贸n de
la Federaci贸n Ecuestre Alemana.
From 1996 to 2006 she was a member of the International Olympic
Committee for Spain, when she became an honorary member, and
Member of the Executive Board of the Spanish Olympic Committee.
Committee for Spain, when she became an honorary member, and
Member of the Executive Board of the Spanish Olympic Committee.
Duty
Pilar de Borb贸n was one of the founders of Asociaci贸n Nuevo Futuro
("New Future Association") in 1968, an international child support
organization, and was its president and then president of honor.
("New Future Association") in 1968, an international child support
organization, and was its president and then president of honor.
Until her death, she was one of the leaders and supporters of the
Rastrillo Nuevo Futuro event, which provided part of the income
that financed Asociaci贸n.
Rastrillo Nuevo Futuro event, which provided part of the income
that financed Asociaci贸n.
馃憠The event even received the visit of the Queens of Spain, Letzia and
Sofia. Rastrillo has always been a place of meeting, solidarity and
enjoyment for her, wrote ¡Hola! magazine in January 2019.
Sofia. Rastrillo has always been a place of meeting, solidarity and
enjoyment for her, wrote ¡Hola! magazine in January 2019.
Her last public appearance was in "Rastrillo" on 23 November 2019.
Pilar de Borb贸n was also a member of the board of directors of the
Queen Sof铆a Spanish Institute in New York City, president of the
World Monuments Fund Espa帽a and, from 2007 to 2009,
president of Europa Nostra, the European Federation for the
Defense of Cultural Heritage.
Queen Sof铆a Spanish Institute in New York City, president of the
World Monuments Fund Espa帽a and, from 2007 to 2009,
president of Europa Nostra, the European Federation for the
Defense of Cultural Heritage.
She was also a music fan and accompanied her brother, King
Juan Carlos of Spain, and nephews to bullfighting matches.
Juan Carlos of Spain, and nephews to bullfighting matches.
Later life and death
Pilar was operated for an intestinal obstruction on 2 February 2019
in Madrid, and was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2019, being made
public in May of the same year.
in Madrid, and was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2019, being made
public in May of the same year.
On 5 January 2020, she was admitted to the hospital as her condition
worsened. She died 3 days later on 8 January 2020 at the Ruber
International Hospital in Madrid, with her family at her side.
worsened. She died 3 days later on 8 January 2020 at the Ruber
International Hospital in Madrid, with her family at her side.
She was cremated on 9 January 2020 and her ashes were buried
alongside her husband in Saint Isidore Cemetery, Madrid, in a
private ceremony.
alongside her husband in Saint Isidore Cemetery, Madrid, in a
private ceremony.
On 28 January 2020, a funeral was held in her honor in El Escorial basilica,
with the presence of her nephew, King Felipe VI of Spain, of former
Queen of the Netherlands, Princess Beatrix, her brother
Juan Carlos I and Sof铆a of Spain, the Duke of Braganza Duarte Pio
and with Spanish political authorities represented by Deputy
Prime Minister Carmen Calvo, Mayor of Madrid Jos茅 Luis
Mart铆nez-Almeida and President of the Congress of Deputies Meritxell
Batet.
with the presence of her nephew, King Felipe VI of Spain, of former
Queen of the Netherlands, Princess Beatrix, her brother
Juan Carlos I and Sof铆a of Spain, the Duke of Braganza Duarte Pio
and with Spanish political authorities represented by Deputy
Prime Minister Carmen Calvo, Mayor of Madrid Jos茅 Luis
Mart铆nez-Almeida and President of the Congress of Deputies Meritxell
Batet.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
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