He did not attend that funeral, just like he did not attend Queen Fabiola’s or King CG’s birthday. It is another generation and he sent his parents. It is what was expected.
He went to Windsor but returned quickly, unlike his Dutch colleague. He also went to Queen MII’s birthday, but strictly to the dinner and because all monarchs (except the Queen of the UK, of course) attended.
The Spanish couple avoids all royal gatherings if they can. I still recall the ridiculous excuse to avoid The PoW’s wedding. Or being absent at his nordic godchildren’s baptism. Let’s see if he attends the Norwegian confirmation.
It is a fact that the present couple follows a different policy than King JC and Queen Sofia.
The biggest problem with foreign travel has been the ongoing political crisis - the King could not go to Grand Duke Jean's funeral because of the election just passed, but his parents went (and the Duke of Calabria accompanied them in the same plane). The King and Queen did come to the Garter ceremony, however, although they could only stay one night - and now there is to be another election. I think the problem is simply that the "official" royal family is now too small and so there is no one able to travel to represent the crown, and it would be hard to see how the Calabrias could therefore play any official role, as they are not part of it (only part of the family of the king). Indeed they are not even, in Spanish law, HRH (although until 1987 Prince Pedro did have the SAR on his id card and passport but lost it when they were next renewed) - there is a recently an "unofficial" acceptance of his right to this style now, as he was accorded it in the mentions on the web site of the Casa Real both this year and last year on the occasion of the award of the history prize of the 4 military Orders. And of course he is accorded the title in all the official acts of the four military orders and the various maestranzas etc. But it will require a royal decree to accord him this title officially as the law is now. http://www.casareal.es/ES/Actividades/Paginas/actividades_actividades_detalle.aspx?data=13958
http://www.casareal.es/ES/Actividades/Paginas/actividades_actividades_detalle.aspx?data=13553
The “modern reduced” Spanish Royal Family are not “amused” mingling with other royal families. Let’s see what happens when Leonor turns 18 yo. Then we will see if the next generation follows the present policy.
I know. With the very limited Royal Family and this father retired while his daughters are still in school it would be quite practical for HM to have three highly respected individuals to assist him, the Queen and Queen Sofia in representing the monarchy. The Duke and Duchess of Calabria would be fine representatives abroad for Royal events in case the Royal couple, Queen Sofia and the Infanta are unable to attend.
This very limited Royal House is good when it comes to finances and potential scandals but the Duke and Duchess of Calabria have shown over the decades that they can be trusted and relied upon to act with dignity while keeping their distance from gossip media and unfortunate business deals.
The duke of Calabria does represent him at many functions of the nobiliary organisations of which the king is grand master / patron/president etc, but not at state functions since he is not a member of the now very limited “royal family” (different from the “family of the king”).
It just shows the Castro's lack the class of Calabria-line.
They have the money of Camilla's family but that is it.
I think it's a shame the King of Spain does not more often calls upon his sister Infanta Elena and the Duke and Duchess of Calabria to represent him and the Spanish monarchy.
The agreement opened with the naming of the two parties, the first being named as (with all titles they used), Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro, his wife and daughters Duchesses of Palermo and Capri. The second being Prince Pedro, Duke of Noto, the Infante Dob Carlos, Duke of Calabria, and Prince Jaime, Duke of Capua. All as Princes or Princesses of the Two Sicilies and royal highnesses.
The agreement continued: "ENTRAMBE LE PARTI, animate da una volontà di riavvicinamento e conciliazione familiare e dinastica tra i due rami della Casa Reale di Borbone delle Due Sicilie le quali, a causa di circostanze storiche, incomprensioni e malintesi familiari, sono state per lunghi anni al centro di dispute sia personali che tra i propri sostenitori." BOTH PARTIES, animated by a desire for rapprochement and family and dynastic reconciliation between the two branches of the Bourbon Royal House of the Two Sicilies which, due to historical circumstances, misunderstandings and family misjudgements, have been at the center of disputes for many years both personal and among their supporters:
Then there are various other paragraphs connected to their hopes for better relations etc, and the key paragraph: "CONCORDANO entrambe le parti di porre nel frattempo tutto il proprio impegno dinastico e familiare al fine di raggiungere uno spirito di concordia e comprehensione non solo tra di esse ma egualmente tra i propri sostenitori, RICONOSCENDOSI RISPETTIVAMENTE COME CUGINI, CON IL TRATTAMENTO E I TITOLI CHE ATTUALMENTE SONO DI USO COMUNE DI AMBEDUE LE PARTI ED I PROPRI DISCENDENTI, E AGENDO PUBBLICAMENTE ALL'UNISONO COME UN'UNICA FAMIGLIA."
"Both parties agree to make a dynastic and family commitment to achieve a spirit of harmony and understanding not only between them but among their supporters RECOGNISING RESPECTIVELY AS COUSINS THE TREATMENT AND TITLES NOW COMMONLY USED BY THE PARTIES AND THEIR DESCENDANTS AND BY PUBLICLY STANDING TOGETHER AS A SINGLE FAMILY".
The very same day the agreement was signed (and I was one of the witnesses to the signing) everyone was invited to a dinner at the end of which a "goody" bag was distributed which included a folding card with the genealogy of the royal house, but eliminating entirely all the descendants of Prince Carlo (the grandfather of Infante Don Carlos). This, despite the agreement stating that this was an agreement between members of two branches of the same royal house! We only found this booklet on returning to our hotel rooms, and the next morning the Spanish side all wanted to leave immediately after the Beatification ceremony with no further discussions or contact - this was a massive breach of trust. There was a tense atmosphere but eventually everyone agreed to sit down together, with many apologies from the Castro side, and everyone left the next day. Invitations were extended to the Duke and Duchess of Castro to come to Madrid, visit Calabria's country house, etc, and to attend the funeral of the Infante (which was attended by over 150 members of reigning and former reigning houses, including both Spanish Kings and Queens and King Simeon) but these invitations were after some prevarication, refused. Then we heard that at the confirmation of the Duchess of Palermo, in St Peter's Basilica, the Duke of Castro made an announcement that he was changing the succession, that his daughter would henceforth be called Duchess of Calabria, and he has thenceforward denied that the Duke of Calabria is even a member of the royal house. He sent a letter to the Spanish newspaper ABC with some unpleasant attacks on the late Infante Don Carlos (who having recently died, was unable to defend himself - of course this caused great upset to his family), and that has been the end of all communication.
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