Infanta Margarita, Duchess of Soria


Infanta Margarita, Duchess of Soria, 2nd Duchess of Hernani, is the younger sister of King Juan Carlos I and aunt of the reigning King Felipe VI of Spain.

Early life

Infanta Margarita was born at Hotel Firenze Anglo American in Rome as the younger daughter of Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona, and Princess Mercedes of the Two Sicilies. Margarita has been blind since birth.

Marriage

She married the physician and aristocrat Carlos Zurita y Delgado on 12 October 1972 in Estoril at St. Anthony's Church. They have two children:
  • Don Alfonso Juan Carlos Zurita y de Borbón, GE, born on 9 August 1973 at Virgen de La Palomain Hospital in Madrid.
  • Doña María Sofía Emilia Carmen Zurita y de Borbón, GE, born on 16 September 1975 in Madrid. Queen Sofía of Spain was her godmother. Princess Maria Zurita has a son Carlos, who was born on 28 April 2018 in Madrid.

    Activities

In 1989, alongside her husband, they created The Duke and Duchess of Soria Cultural Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of Spanish culture, Hispanic studies, science and knowledge, as well as the preservation of cultural heritage.
She's also Honorary President of Madrid's delegation of UNICEF, of the Spanish Heart Foundation, of the ONCE Foundation and of the Spanish Federation of Hemophilia.

Titles, styles and honours

Infanta Margarita renounced her right of succession to the Spanish throne upon marriage because it was not a dynastic wedding.
On 6 January 1979, the Infanta's distant cousin Manfredo de Borbón, 1st Duke of Hernani, died and willed his ducal title to be inherited by Margarita. The King granted this request in 1977 and, on 27 May 1981, she became 2nd Duchess of Hernani, accompanied by the dignity of Grandee. The peerage title refers to the town Hernani, Spain. The month after, on 23 June 1981, King Juan Carlos created her Duchess of Soria ; this title is a title of the Royal House and cannot be inherited by her children.

Titles and styles

  • 6 March 193919 May 1981: Her Royal Highness Infanta Doña Margarita
  • 19 May 198123 June 1981: Her Royal Highness Infanta Doña Margarita, Duchess of Hernani
  • 23 June 1981present: Her Royal Highness Infanta Doña Margarita, Duchess of Soria

    Honours

National