Tuesday, August 19, 2008

King Edward rejects Spanish marriage


August 19, 1905:


It was reported today in Madrid that King Edward VII will not allow his niece, Princess Patricia of Connaught, to marry King Alfonso XIII of Spain. The announcement came from Alfonso's private chaplain, Dr. Macho, who told the media that King Edward appointed two physicians to Alfonso's entourage during the Spanish king's recent visit to England. The two doctors reported back to the British king that Alfonso "shows signs of insanity and is suffering from tuberculosis."


After receiving this report, King Edward "broke off the negotiations for the marriage," according to an article in the Chicago Daily Tribune.

King Alfonso XIII succeeded to the throne at birth as his father died from consumption several months earlier.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Really, the newpapers talked about the Spanish King's "insanity"? But he was good enough for Ena?

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

Just quoted what the good doctor told the press! :)

Anonymous said...

Reports like this, full of inaccuracies easily spotted by those who have read the historical accounts a century later, offer a sobering lesson to those of us who read royal news items today!

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

Exactly. I am having fun doing this!

JayV said...

I can see you are enjoying it! I love the brief newsy anniversary posts, along with the real time happenings. - Jay