Infanta Margarita, Duchess of Soria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Infanta Margarita |
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| Duchess of Soria and Hernani | |||||
Margarita with her husband, Carlos, in 2010
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| Born | 6 March 1939 Rome, Kingdom of Italy |
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| Spouse |
Carlos Zurita y Delgado
(m. 1972) |
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| Issue | Alfonso Zurita y Borbón María Zurita y Borbón |
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| House | Bourbon-Anjou | ||||
| Father | Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona | ||||
| Mother | Princess María de las Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies | ||||
Infanta Margarita, Duchess of Soria, 2nd Duchess of Hernani (born March 6, 1939), is a member of the Spanish Royal Family. She is the younger sister of King Juan Carlos I, who used to be the King of Spain. This also means she is the aunt of the current King, King Felipe VI. Infanta Margarita has been blind since she was born.
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Early Life
Infanta Margarita was born in Rome, Italy. Her parents were Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona, and Princess María de las Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. She was their younger daughter.
Marriage and Family
On October 12, 1972, Margarita married Carlos Zurita y Delgado. He is a doctor and also comes from a noble family. Their wedding took place in Estoril, Portugal.
They have two children:
- Alfonso Juan Carlos Zurita y de Borbón, born on August 9, 1973, in Madrid.
- María Sofía Emilia Carmen Zurita y de Borbón, born on September 16, 1975, in Madrid. Queen Sofia of Spain, who is Margarita's sister-in-law, became María's godmother.
Important Activities
Infanta Margarita and her husband, Carlos, are very active in helping others. In 1989, they started a group called the Fundación Cultural Duques de Soria. This foundation works to promote culture and education.
She is also the Honorary President of the UNICEF office in Madrid. UNICEF is a big organization that helps children around the world. Additionally, she is the Honorary President of the Spanish Heart Foundation, which works to improve heart health.
Royal Titles
When Infanta Margarita married Carlos Zurita, she gave up her right to become queen of Spain. This was because her marriage was not considered a "dynastic wedding," which means it wasn't arranged between royal families for political reasons.
Later, in 1979, a distant cousin named Manfredo de Borbón passed away. He had a special title, the 1st Duke of Hernani. In his will, he asked for Margarita to inherit this title. The King agreed, and in 1981, she became the 2nd Duchess of Hernani. This title also came with the special honor of being a Grandee of Spain. A Grandee is a very high rank in Spanish nobility. The title "Hernani" refers to a town in Spain.
Just a month later, in June 1981, the King gave her another important title for her lifetime. She became the Duchess of Soria. This title refers to the city of Soria in Spain.
Awards and Honours
Infanta Margarita has received many important awards from Spain and other countries. These awards recognize her royal status and her work.
Some of her Spanish awards include:
- The Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III
- The Royal Order of Noble Ladies of Queen Maria Luisa
- The Civil Order of Alfonso X, the Wise
She has also received awards from other countries, such as Greece and Portugal.
See also
In Spanish: Margarita de Borbón para niños
