THE UNHAPPY KING OF SPAIN.
ALFONSO AND HIS M OTHER -
IN-LAAY
King Alfonso of Spain was enjoying himself at the Cowes Regatta, in England, when he surprised the Royal party by coming down to breakfast one morning extremely agitated, and exclaiming that ho must go back to Madrid immediately.
The reason for this sudden departure as given in an official communication to the press, was that Alfonso’s little, son, Don Jaime, was again ill, but the fact that Victoria, the boy’s mother, was not in tile least perturbed, discredited this explanation. Another reason was substituted, namely, that urgent affairs of State made it necessary for Alfonso’s immediate return to Madrid. But the real reason —the ordinary, unromantic truth —has now leaked out: King Alfonso had a row with his mother-in-law.
It lias been known for a long time that Alfonso and Princess Henry of Battenhurg are not ideally happy in each other’s company, and on several occasions quite undignified squabbles have provided pleasant scandal rer the Court ladies, and delightful speculation for the servants. As a rule Victoria lias acted the part of the peacemaker, and lias boon able to keep her mother and husband on outwardly polite terms with each other, blit at the Cowes Regatta Alfonso exploded, bad his baggage packed, and left in a hurry. Alfonso is said to be not a very tractable son-in-ia.., and is rather too fond of a loose rein to please the oldfashioned Princess Henry, who ideas of how to behave in public are founded on her recollection of the solemn Court of Queen Victoria.
In fact, Alfonso finds the continual nagging so irritating that be once told a personal English friend, m a sudden hurst of confidence, that a revolution in Sapin which would free him of his kingly responsibilities and send him to join Manuel of Portugal in peaceful and happy exile, would be most welcome. He could face an anarchist with a bomb, or a mob of Republicans, but he could not face his mother-in-law.
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Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3631, 18 September 1912, Page 7
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336THE UNHAPPY KING OF SPAIN. Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3631, 18 September 1912, Page 7
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