ANKARA
The Duchess of Alba, one of Europe's richest women and the holder of 14 Spanish Grandee awards, has died after a short illness at the age of 88 in her mansion in Seville.
Maria del Rosario Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, the world's most-titled woman according to Guinness World Records, was hospitalized a few days ago with respiratory failure and heart problems.
She leaves a husband, six children and several grandchildren.
The only daughter of the 17th Duke Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart y Falco and Maria del Rosario Silva y Gurtubay, Maria del Rosario Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva was born on March 28, 1926, in a palace in Madrid.
'Rebel noble'
She was known as Spain’s "rebel noble" for her flamboyant dress-sense, which included short skirts, and her love of flamenco clubs where she used to hang out with non-royals.
Her frizzy hair also did not reflect the usual graceful appearance expected of a European noble.
Regarded as Spain’s most-loved person, she was constantly featured in magazines, even during the final years of her long life when she married her third husband.
The third marriage - to civil servant Alfonso Diez, 25 years her junior - in 2011 provoked scandal in Spain with the union being opposed by her children and the royal family, notably King Juan Carlos.
High rank
She received the Spanish Grandee (Spanish Grandezas de Espana) award five times as a duchess, once as a countess-duchess, 18 times as a marchioness, 18 times as a countess and once as a viscountess, according to Guinness World Records.
The award recognizes high aristocratic ranks and is used by the Spanish, Portuguese and Brazilian nobility. Its equivalent in the U.K. or France is a peerage, although Grandees have no powers as a group in Spain.
The Duchess of Alba was the head of one of Spain's oldest aristocratic families and the third woman to hold the title of Duchess of Alba in her own right.
Her wealth is estimated to be worth between €600 million and €3.5 billion and is expected to be shared among her children.
Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.
