14 DAY TRIAL // Spain’s Duchess of Alba, the world’s most titled aristocrat (as per the Guinness Book of World Records) and one of the richest aristocrats in the country, and a constant glossy fixture, has died. Maria del Rosario Cayetana Alfonsa Victoria Eugenia Francisca Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, or Cayetana for short, was 88 years old.
A few days ago, the Duchess was admitted to hospital for health issues that were described by officials as “minor.” She passed away at her home in Seville, surrounded by her kids and her boytoy husband, the one who helped her grab headlines around the world in 2011, when they went public with their romance.
Duchess will remain in Seville
The Duchess, known as Lady Cayetana in her country and beloved by all because she was a rebel who wasn’t afraid to go up against the norms someone of her status was expected to respect, was born in Madrid on March 28, 1926.
She was the holder of 49 inherited aristocratic titles, which made her the most titled aristocrat in the world.
She is now at her home in Seville, and according to a tweet from the Mayor of the city, Juan Ignacio Zoido, she will be laid to rest there as well. “Lady Cayetana always had Seville in her heart and for this reason she will always remain in Seville’s heart. May she rest in peace,” the Mayor writes.
The Guardian reports that she died at home, surrounded by her children and her husband. In her final moments, she managed to bring together the family that was ripped apart by her relationship and later marriage to Alfonso Diez, a civil servant who was 25 years her junior.
A flamboyant woman, a fascinating character
The Duchess of Alba was very open, which probably explains some of her popularity in the country. Her eccentric appearance accounts for the rest: she wore her hair in small curls, all-white, like a halo around her head, and she’d had considerable work done on her face, most of it with dubious results.
The Duchess of Alba also liked to dress according to the latest in fashion, and she wasn’t the kind that would shut up on a topic she was passionate about. However, it wasn’t until 2011 that she became an international celebrity, when it emerged that she was in a committed relationship with Diez.
Her children accused him of being a shameless golddigger, which was only the most instinctive reaction on their part, if you consider that their mother was worth an estimated €3.5 billion ($4.387 billion). The Duchess never liked to talk about the kind of money she had (only to say that she had more assets than liquidities), but she confirmed that report by signing a paper renouncing her entire fortune in favor of her children.
Then, when the feud continued, she made public the contents of her will, with everything split between the children and not a cent going to Diez. They were married shortly after.
After the ceremony, the Duchess’ name officially became María del Rosario Cayetana Paloma Alfonsa Victoria Eugenia Fernanda Teresa Francisca de Paula Lourdes Antonia Josefa Fausta Rita Castor Dorotea Santa Esperanza Fitz-James Stuart, Silva, Falcó y Gurtubay Diez.
Doña Cayetana siempre llevó a Sevilla en el corazón y por eso permanecerá para siempre en el corazón de Sevilla. Descanse en paz.
— Juan Ignacio Zoido (@zoidoalcalde) November 20, 2014
