A ROYAL ROMANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14157, 4 September 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

A ROYAL ROMANCE.

HONOURS AND TITLES SACRIFICED FOR WIFE. A decree has been published in the official Gaceta depriving the Infante Alfonso c Orleans of his titles and dignities. The reason for this remarkable step is that the Prince has married the Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg without King Alfonso's consent. The Infante Alfonso is a son of Prince Antoine of Orleans and the Infanta Eulalia, a,' d is, therefore, a first cousin of the King of Spain. His newly-wedded wife is the fourth daughter of the late Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (Duke of Edinburgh). She is. consequently, a cousin of the Queen of Spain. The marriage, which has been in contemplation for over a year, took place at Coburg. Owing to the difference in the religious persuasions of Prince Alfonso and the Princess Beatrice, the marriage was strongly opposed by the Prince's family and by the Pope, but despite these obstacles the young people have had tbeir way, and are now man and wife. When it was first suggested the Infante j Prince Antoine of Orlears ottered the proposal the most energetic opposition. Prince Antoine' own wedded life has not been particularly happy, and he and the Infanta Eulalia have been separated by mutual agreement for some years. When Prince Alfonso became aware of his father's opposition to the marriage he wrote saying. " I shall marry the Princess Beatrice whatever the ! cost it may entail." The aid of the Vatican was then sought by Prince Antoine, and the Pope intimated to the Prince Alfonso that he would never give his consent to the marriage unless the Princess Beatrice became a Roman Catholic, as it was impossible for the Vatican to approve of the union of a Prince of a reigning Catholic family with a Princess belonging to a Protestant house. In reply to this, Prince Alfonso declared his unalterable intention to proceed witn the marriage, despite the opposition of his ! family, the law, and the Church. The j Prince during all these negotiations was a j student at the Military Academy of Toledo, and remained there until May 11 last, when he was given a commission as Second Lieutenant in an infantry regiment. About this time a communication was received from the Vatican, stating that if the Spanish Government approved of the proposed I marriage, his holiness would feel obliged to ' regard such a step with strong disapproval, and would break off diplomatic relations with Spain. Senor Maura, the Prime Minister, is a Clerical of the Clericals, and assured the Papal representative in Madrid that the Spanish Government would never consent to the marriage. After this the discussion ceased, and nothing further was said by Prince Alfonso on the subject until the King of Spain received a telegram, announcing that the wedding had taken place. KING ALFONSO'S DECLIKE. King Alfonso at once telegraphed for Senor Maura, who was at ttantander. On his arrival he had a long interview with the King, and the decree depriving Prince Alfonso of his titles was the result.

The Prince is in a very difficult position, as his marriage without 'the King's consent has entailed the breaking of some very stringent laws relating to the House of Bourbon, of which the King of Spain is the head, and no marriage of any member of it can legally take place without His Majesty's approval. According to Spanish law, Prince Alfonso should have received the consent of his father and mother, and it was equally necessary that the banns should be published on three Sundays in the town and parish where the Prince resided.

In. addition to contravening all these laws, the newly-wedded Prince has committed a whole series of military offences. In the first place, as a junior "officer of the Army he could not get married without the approval of the Minister for War ; in the second, he left Spain without a passport; and in the third, his regiment was under orders for Morocco to join the forces operating at Melilla, and an order had been sent to the Prince to join his regiment. The order, however, did not reach him, as he had already left for Germany without leave from his military superiors. Prince Alfonso crossed the frontier into France and proceeded direct to Coburg. It is believed that all the preliminaries for the marriage had then been arranged. As already mentioned, the Prince has been promptly deprived of all his titles, honours, decorations, and prerogatives as a minnber of the House of Bourbon. The military authorities will immediately institute proceedings against him as a deserter, in accordance with military law. Prince Alfonso is undoubtedly in a, very difficult position. It is believed that he will not return to Madrid and that he will resign his commission in the army. The ex-Infante Alfonso of Orleans and his bride, the Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg and Goth;.:, have left Coburg for the South on their honeymoon. The voung couple will later take up their residence at the Edinburgh Palace.