The Duchess of Alba – Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart’s Marriage to Alfonso Diez

On 12 October 1947, the Duchess of Alba married Don Luis Martínez de Irujo y Artázcoz.  He was the  son of the Duke of Sotomayor. The wedding was considered to be the last great feudal wedding in Spain and attracted the attention of the international media. The New York Times called it “the most expensive wedding of the world, rumoured to have cost in the region of 20 million pesetas.  Her lavish wedding nuptials were threatened to overshadow those of the Britain’s Princess Elizabeth (HRH The Queen). Marrying 64 years later, on 5th October 2011, Spain’s premier aristocrat billed her wedding as a small family celebration.  Millions tuned in to their televisions to see coverage of the groom, civil servant Alfonso Diez, arriving at Seville’s Las Dueñas Palace.

Since early morning, well wishers and supporters, wearing traditional Andalucian dress and white wigs, gathered outside Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart’s 16th-century Renaissance property.  A red carpet had been laid outside the estate, which covers 9,542 square metres in the heart of the city, Three priests presided over the Catholic ceremony, which lasted an hour. The service took place in the palace chapel and had been decorated with pink and white flowers arranged by Seville designers Victorio & Lucchino, who were also responsible for the duchess’ shell pink dress. The wedding dress was made from chiffon and lace, embodying romance, with the floaty hemline and billowing sleeves. A flattering, zig-zag gauze boat neckline perfectly complemented the intricate embellishment, whilst the mint green ribbon around the waist cinched the silhouette for a delicate, feminine finish. The vintage-style gown was less flamboyant than her usual bohemian costumes, as the designers, who were also guests at the ceremony, said they wanted the dress to have an ‘Andalusian flourish’. Every television station carried extensive coverage of the big day, with presenters even dressed up in wedding finery.