When they were in exile, it was extremely difficult to find a suitable husband for each of Alfonso XIII's daughters, being Catholics, not extremely rich anymore, exiled and with the taint of haemophilia in their family tree. Beatriz was introduced to her future husband by her sister, who ahd met him at a party Beatrzi was unable to attend (she was ill). Beatrzi says in a book written by her grandson that there was never any friction at court between Maria Cristina and Victoria Eugenia, even throughout the World War. Both were Spanish queens already, she says, regardless of the country where they were born. Maria Cristina never spoke German in Madrid, contrary to popular supposition, which is why Alfosno XIII never really managed to speak the language. Ena spoke English or French with her children, but sometimes also reverted to Spanish since she spoke it very well after a few years at court.
I find this langyuage matter very interesting. The present King and Queen speak English to each other, but the King also speaks Italian and Portuguese. He doesn't speak a word of Greek, which he regrets, since his wife uses it privately, when counting etc...
