Wedding of Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona and Princess María de las Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies

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 on this day in 1935, 90 years ago, followed by an Audience with the Pope at the Vatican.

Infante Juan, the third son and heir of the exiled King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain, married Princess María de las Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, daughter of Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Infante of Spain and Princess Louise of Orléans, at the Basilica of Santa María de Los Ángeles in Rome

They got married on the day of Hispanidad. Minutes before 11 AM of October 12, 1935, Don Juan de Borbón, arrived in a covered car, dressed in tails and wearing the insignia of the Golden Fleece. His father, King Alfonso XIII and his sister Maria Cristina accompanied him.Moments later, the bride appeared, accompanied by her parents, Carlos de Borbón Dos Sicilias and Luisa de Orleans.

The bride wore a designer suit by Worth in silver lamé with antique lace and a long and splendid chiffon veil, supported by a diadem of orange blossom sent from Valencia.The bridal bouquet was made up of gladioli, tuberose and lilies.

The contracting parties made their entrance into the temple while the chords of the nuptial march sounded and occupied two kneelers in front of the main altar, where by the express desire of the bride and groom an image of the Virgin of the Pillar was placed, under whose dedication the young couple wanted to join .

The ceremony was conducted by the Archbishop of Florence, Elías Della Costa, and was acted as witnesses by Don Jaime, Duke of Segovia, brother of the groom;Don Fernando de Baviera, uncle of the contracting party; and Don Alfonso and Don Carlos de Borbón, brothers of the bride.

After the Wedding, the newlyweds had an Audience with the Pope at the Vatican.

After the religious ceremony, the newlyweds, together with the members of their respective families, went to the Vatican, where they were received by their Holiness of the Pope. After the audience, which lasted a quarter of an hour, don Juan and Doña María de las Mercedes went to the Vatican Basilica to pray before the tomb of Saint Peter.

After the religious ceremony, the bride and groom traveled to the Vatican in a Bentley, a gift from the Duke of La Torre, one of the witnesses at the wedding. They were received in audience by Pope Pius XI for fifteen minutes.

The Countess of Barcelona would later recall:

My wedding dress had been made by Worth; it was very simple, and so was the veil, held in place with a crown. I was very excited about my bridal bouquet, because I had been told they were sending me orange blossoms from Seville. At the last moment, however, the Viscountess of Rocamora gave me a bouquet of white gladioli — which she had to rush out and buy in the street — the one I’m holding in all the photographs, and which I didn’t like at all. Later we learned that the pilots bringing the orange blossoms got lost or had some trouble and landed — in Luxembourg!

I arrived at the church on the arm of my uncle, the King, and Juan came in on my mother’s arm. It was beautiful and moving to hear the cheers in Spanish, especially those for the King! There were groups dressed in traditional costumes from many regions, which brought back the nostalgia of our beloved Spain.

The entire ceremony went perfectly. When we came out, Juan and I were deeply moved again by the applause and affection of so many people.

The difficult part came afterward, when we went to see the Pope, who was to receive us as Prince and Princess of Asturias — heirs to the King of Spain, who since the time of Ferdinand and Isabella has held the title of Catholic Majesty. We arrived at the Vatican, and in the courtyard the Noble Guard was waiting to escort us to the hall where Pope Pius XI would receive us.

At that time the protocol was very strict: one had to make three genuflections before the Pope — one upon entering, another halfway across the room, and a third before kissing his slipper. It wasn’t easy to do with the bouquet, the train of the dress, the veil, and all the emotion! Fortunately, God helps — and Juan lent me a hand”.

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.

Queen Maria Cristina’s Loop Tiara

Spanish Fleur-de-Lys Tiara