A SPANISH PRINCE IN EXILE: COUNT COVADONGA’S new life

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20614, 15 May 1935, Page 6

A SPANISH PRINCE IN EXILE: COUNT COVADONGA’S new life

To-day’s Special Article.

Glad to be an Ordinary Citizen : To Study Agriculture in the States.

BY ALPHONSE de BQURBON, Count of Covadonga. The following is the first article written by Count Covadonga, eldest son of ex-King Alfonso of Spain, for publication in any newspaper in the world. The Spanish Royal Family has been extremely reluctant to make any statements for publication since they left Spain, and the article below expresses for the first time the views and plans of the Prince, whose marriage to a beautiful Cuban commoner led him to renounce his right to succeed his father should a monarchist restoration again place Alfonso on the throne of Spain Count Covadonga proposes

J AM GLAD to be an ordinary private citizen—strange though it may seem to those who envy royalty. Of course. I am sorry not to be able to serve my country as I was trained from mv earliest childhood to do, but. on the other hand, what a relief not to be a victim of ceremony, ever considering the possible effect of my lightest words and under the strict control of court officials. •

My father’s day of work would astonish those who think that a king’s whole job is to sit on a throne and balance a crown on his head. But I have not the space to speak of that here. But I am happy that I am a free man. Beset by All the Snobs. But although I am just a private citizen, I am still beset by all the snobs. There are thousands of them and they just will not learn that I am no longer a. prince. People I stay with, just private individuals unknown to fame, immediately become socially popular just because I happen to be there, and are invited to all sorts of functions —which do not interest them in the least —because of the “ glory ” my presence sheds on their house. In my heart of hearts, I wish I had been born a commoner. True, I should have, missed a lot from some points of view, but then I should not feel so handicapped as I do now. A prince, you see, learns all about statecraft . . . but who in these days wants statecraft? If I had learned all about agriculture, for instance, how useful I could be to my country, where agriculture is almost everything, but where modern methods are very difficult to apply on account of the mountainous nature of the country. Indeed, one of the chief reasons of my projected visit to the United States is to learn all I can on agricultural development. Then, if ever T return to my dear Spain, I shall be able \o serve her interests in a really practical way. To Learn Agriculture. Agriculture has always been my hobby, but only as an'amateur; I shall now probably turn professional, or at any rate learn all that I can. My father and my mother are both very sympathetic to my project and during my stay in the States I shall benefit all the time by their advice and wise experience.

to visit America for study. My wife, too, greatly favours my idea of learning in America whatever may be useful to our country. Although she is a Cuban, she comes of an old Spanish family and she has the welfare of Spain at heart. Although this is my first visit to the States, she is thoroughly at home there, having been educated there, so it will not seem like going to a strange land at all. Also, I have very ltianv good friends in America, who will help me to my goal.

Of course, it may be that I shall discover some other, way to make myself useful, in which case I shall be obliged to forsake agriculture. . I do not mind what I do so long as my work may be of ultimate value to mv country. I shall be very glad to leave Europe for a time and something of a newer world where men are rated for what they are and not merely for what they are born. I have often expressed that thought to my father and mother, and they understand well my feelings. For State reasons they were unable to sanction my going before, but now’ they have no objection and I have their full-hearted support. Another matter I am anxious to study in America is radio development, as I foresee certain applications which might be of particular use in Spain. Early Advantages Lost. As you can see, my stay in the New World may last a long time. There is so much I want to see and study. All the advantages of my early days seem lost. I -want so much' to serve, and what I have learned can now never be used in m£ own country, where I am just a citizen like anybody else. But I feel that I can make a career for myself in great free America, and that while making that career I shall learn much which I may be able to use later on for that Spain w'hich I love so much. And if that opportunity for service should be delayed, what does it matter? I shall be preparing myself, as any private individual may, to be useful. I have no political aspirations, but I just want to help my people in any way I can. One way, I feel sure, will be to help improve technical education and provide the young men of Spain with the opportunities which circumstances have denied me.—N.A.N.A. Copyright.