Infanta Margarita, Duchess of Soria

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Spanish Royal Family

The Infanta Margarita of Spain, Duchess of Soria (Doña Margarita María de la Victoria Esperanza Jacoba Felicidad Perpetua de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias) (born March 6, 1939), is the youngest daughter of H.R.H. Don Juan de Borbón, Count of Barcelona and H.R.H. Doña Maria Mercedes de Borbón Dos-Sicilias y Orleans, and younger sister of current reigning King Juan Carlos of Spain and of Infanta Pilar of Spain. Doña Margarita has been blind since birth.

She married Don Carlos Emilio Juan Zurita y Delgado (a medical doctor born in 1943) on October 12, 1972. They have two children:

  • His Excellency Don Alfonso Juan Carlos Zurita y de Borbón (born 1973)
  • Her Excellency Doña María Sofia Emilia Carmen Zurita y de Borbón (born 1975).

Doña Margarita renounced her right of succession upon marriage, but her renunciation took place before the adoption of the Spanish Constitution and was not ratified by the Cortes.

Styles of
Infanta Margarita of Spain
Reference style Her Royal Highness
Spoken style Your Royal Highness
Alternative style Ma'am

On January 6, 1979, the Infanta's cousin, HE Manfredo de Borbón, 1st Duke de Hernani, died and willed his ducal title to be inherited by Doña Margarita. The King granted this request, and on May 27, 1981, she became 2nd Duchess de Hernani. The next month, on June 23, 1981, she was granted her own dukedom for life, and became Duchess of Soria. This title won't be inherited by her son, though he will be someday Duke of Hernani.

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.

House of Bourbon
Born: 6 March 1939; Died:
Peerage of Spain
Preceded by
Manfredo de Borbón, 1st Duke of Hernani
Duchess of Hernani Incumbent
Designated heir:
Alfonso Zurita y de Borbón
In other languages