Posted by Jane
on 1/11/2009, 15:31:14, in reply to "Aunt of Condoms"
71.113.185.73
--Previous Message--
: If Leonor will ever succeed to the spanish
: throne, and
: If she decides to marry a spanish commoner,
: I recomend that she will marry an only son,
: of an only son of an only son, for at least
: 10 generations.
You mean only CHILD -- in light of your report about the paternal aunt of Letizia ...
Personally, I think that the Infanta Leonor should marry a foreigner -- whether royal or commoner (preferably the former, of course). One of the principle reasons behind Ebenbuertigkeit was precisely the prevention of locals making national news (and possibly scandals) and gaining influence over the royal family. After all, royals are supposed to be above internal politics and not take sides in internecine squabbles -- something signified by the choice of spouses from the national ranks.
It's just that historically speaking, marrying a foreigner typically meant marrying someone of *equal* birth. In today's world, of course, that's hardly done anymore -- so the least the royals could do (if they marry beneath their rank) is to marry foreign-born and raised commoners. This seems to have worked well enough in Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
Norway thus far has been lucky in avoiding any major scandal, despite the presence of native-born commoners in the royal family (perhaps the relatives have been respectful, in trying to stay out of the limelight). Belgium and the UK have heirs who married nationals -- but the wives at least were of high birth. This may have been unacceptable in the past, but by today's standards is considered respectable. It still hasn't totally prevented *scandals* -- but at least they've been mostly minor (witness the controversial actions of Princess Mathilde's family, regarding an inheritance).
Hereditary Prince Aloys of Liechtenstein is certainly in a class all by himself -- being the only heir to a throne, in his generation, to marrying completely *equally.* I wonder if Hereditary Princess Sophie, before marriage, was ever linked to the Prince of the Asturias ...
Perhaps she WAS, but the Liechtensteinians envisioned their own princess as the future bride of Felipe (something that King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia would dearly have welcomed), and sent her the message that "no, Felipe is for Tatiana; you can have her brother Aloys as your husband instead."
I personally think that the other Philippe (the Duke of Brabant) should have married either Princess Sophie of Bavaria or one of the Spanish Infantas (Elena or Cristina), Mathilde should have married Prince Aloys (she would have been an acceptable bride by Liechtensteinian standards, even before World War I), and that Felipe should have married Tatiana.