Victoria Eugenia of Battenberg, Queen of Spain

[Eurohistory]

I don't believe she ever returned to Spain--certainly not to live. She continued her life in exile in Switzerland. She would've only returned to lay in the waiting area before burial in El Escorial.

In February 1968 Queen Victoria Eugenia arrived at Barajas International Airport to a rapturous welcoming extended to her by thousands of Spaniards.  Everywhere she went to, thousands and thousands of people followed and driving around Madrid became quite difficult.  The Liria Palace, home of the Dukes of Alba, and where the Queen stayed during her visit, was surrounded by people during Victoria Eugenia's visit.

It was her fist visit since the ignominy of exile and the hurried departure in April of 1931, and it would be her last visit to Spain.

Arturo Beéche

[sebastien]

Hi

I’m currently working on an essay of Queen Victoria Eugenia, Queen Ena, in her post-War years leading up to her return to Spain for her great-grandson’s christening, and I’ve spent quite a substantial bit on her move to Lausanne from England after the second war.  I was hoping to include a picture of La Vieille Fontaine in the essay but I’ve been looking now for sometime (and not very successfully!) on the Internet and certain books but haven’t been able to find anything.  I know, well I’ve read, that it is next door to Museum L’Elysee but I still haven’t been able to track any picture down.  

I was wondering if any of you knew where the was a picture, or if you had one if you could kindly post it.  I’ve read the post that states a private company has it and was wondering if any knew which company?  

Well thank you all in advance for your help, I’m sure someone will be able to point me in the right direction.

Regards

Sebastien

[TampaBay]

In February 1968 Queen Victoria Eugenia arrived at Barajas International Airport to a rapturous welcoming extended to her by thousands of Spaniards.  Everywhere she went to, thousands and thousands of people followed and driving around Madrid became quite difficult.  The Liria Palace, home of the Dukes of Alba, and where the Queen stayed during her visit, was surrounded by people during Victoria Eugenia's visit.

It was her fist visit since the ignominy of exile and the hurried departure in April of 1931, and it would be her last visit to Spain.

Arturo Beéche

Arturo,

Whay did she not just stay in Spain in 1968?

TampaBay

[umigon]

Well, the reason why Queen Victoria Eugenia didn't stay in Spain was that she simply did'nt wanted to!

Firstly she couldn't forgive that 37 years before Spain had made herself and her family flee to other countries.

Secondly and most important, she felt General Franco had betrayed and deceived both her husband and, most important, her beloved son. She used to call Franco ''The Pig'', so I don't think she would have liked to live under his protection which, on the other hand, I doubt Franco would have asked her for it.

Finally and least important (or maybe not so unimportant!) she was 81 years of age and she would die the year after. Maybe she just felt she was dying and wanted to die in her beloved Lausanne!

[darius]

I believe that she would only return once Spain had become a monarchy with a King ie. her son or grandson.

[sebastien]

Sebastian--I don't have a photo but perhaps you could contact Laussane tourism? I've found from traveling around that local tourism centers are very helpful.

Thank you for your advice, and to all the others who contacted me.

I was also wondering whether anybody knew the name of the artist who painted Victoria Eugenia in 1955?  It is reproduced in Gerald Noel's biography on her (page 280) and it shows her in her Drawing Room at La Vieille Fontaine.  Unfortunately Mr Noel does give any details on the painting apart from it was painted in 1955.

Also, does anybody know whether she attended Elizabeth II coronation in 1953?  One article I read said she did the other stated that she didn't.

Once again, many thanks on the help regarding Vieille Fontaine.

Sebastian

P.S. Regarding remaining in Spain, it would never have been an option politically and practically as Franco only allowed her to visit for the baptism and it was officially a private family visit and nothing else.  She only wanted to attempt to show a unified family front and to promote the claims Don Juan.  She had worried that Franco may pass over Don Juan and Juan Carlos for someone else – namely Hugo Carlos of Bourbon-Parma who represented the Carlist claim.  Also, Queen Ena had undergone the trip against medical advice and was being treated by doctors in Lausanne, which had been her home for 20 years by then.  Her trip was a success, despite being short, and she could in her own words “die happy”.

[darius]

I don´t think that Queen consorts are permitted to attend coronations of British Monarchs for some reason. I remember reading that Prince Philips aunt queen Louise of Sweden was upset at not being allowed to attend.

[bluetoria]

I think protocol forbids any monarchs or their consorts attending any other coronation. Is it something to do with difficulties in precedence?

[Robert_Hall]

That is part of it. I think the main reason is to prevent any visiting monarchs "stealing the show". Or, more "olden days" using the occassion for politicking.

[Ilana]

Anyone have access to a guest list for Ena and Alphonso's wedding?  Thanks.

[cimbrio]

What was the reaction of the guests after the bomb attack on Alfonso and Ena after the ceremony? I know the Infanta isabel, duchess of Girgenti, was the one who broke the news to everyone, I guess there was a lot fo tension...andy photos on the attack? i've only seen one in my life which is quite famous. Plus, how many died? I know Ena came back with someone else's blood on her white wedding dress.... a bad omen of what wasto come, no doubt...

[Bsquared]

Prince Andrea of Greece and Denmark represented Greece for the wedding of his wife's double cousin Ena.  His wife Alice of Battenberg was giving birth to her second daughter Theodora and did not make the trip-Andrea did not see his daughter for a fortnight.

[cimbrio]

In February 1968 Queen Victoria Eugenia arrived at Barajas International Airport to a rapturous welcoming extended to her by thousands of Spaniards.  Everywhere she went to, thousands and thousands of people followed and driving around Madrid became quite difficult.  The Liria Palace, home of the Dukes of Alba, and where the Queen stayed during her visit, was surrounded by people during Victoria Eugenia's visit.

It was her fist visit since the ignominy of exile and the hurried departure in April of 1931, and it would be her last visit to Spain.

Arturo Beéche

Ena remained in Switzerland because she loathed Francisco Franco, who nevertheless had educated her grandson while snuffing her son Juan. I suppose she would have returned once the monarchy returned too, but she died before. However, she did live to see the dynasty growing and continuing, being the godmother of her great-grandson Felipe. Opinion towards her is divided in Spain; the older generations remember her as cold and stupid for not having declined Alfonso's proposal of marriage ("she must have known she could have haemophilia" they say). Plus, the coldness she displayed on her wedding day after the Morral bomb only helped to make things worse; coldness in such an event is OK in England, but in Spain women would have been expected to break down and act in a more dramatic way (not my opinion, I've read it and am willing to believe it). However, being the daughter of the British Queen's youngest daughter, being offered a throne must have seemed a great opportunity, though I doubt Queen Victoria would have approved, sort of the same thing with Alix in Russia...

[brnbg aka: liljones1968]

I already do!  

i don't know if you've already got it, but you might really want to try to get:

LAS JOYAS DE LAS REINAS DE ESPAñA
by fernando rayon & jose luis sampedro
published by PLANETA,
barcelona, 2004


it's a wonderful book!

[Grand_Duke]

by Isidro Fernández Fuentes Gamonal, 1914.