Infanta Margarita, Duchess of Soria

Who is Infanta Margarita, Duchess of Soria?

Infanta Margarita, Duchess of Soria, is the younger sister of King Juan Carlos I of Spain.

Infanta Margarita was born in Rome as the younger daughter of Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona, and Princess María Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. Margarita has been blind since birth.

She married the physician Carlos Zurita y Delgado on 12 October 1972 in Estoril. They have two children:

HE Alfonso Juan Carlos Zurita y de Borbón

HE María Sofía Emilia Carmen Zurita y de Borbón

Margarita renounced her right of succession upon marriage, but her renunciation took place before the adoption of the Spanish Constitution and was not ratified by the Cortes.

On 6 January 1979, the Infanta's cousin, Manfredo de Borbón, 1st Duke of Hernani, died and willed his ducal title to be inherited by Margarita. The King granted this request, and on 27 May 1981, she became 2nd Duchess of Hernani with accompanying dignity Grandee of Spain. The peerage title referres to the town Hernani, Spain. The next month, on 23 June 1981, she was also granted a higher dukedom for life by the king, and became Duchess of Soria.