9 Facts about Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, Spain's Fairy Queen

Princess Victoria Eugenie Julia Ena of Battenberg was born on October 24, 1887 at the Balmoral Castle in Scotland. She was the second child and the youngest daughter of Prince Henry of Battenberg and his wife, and Princess Beatrice, the youngest child of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. During her prime, she was one of the most beautiful and most eligible princesses of Europe, sought after by princes from different kingdoms. She eventually married King Alfonso XIII of Spain, changing her name to Victoria Eugenia, where she was popular for dedicating herself to the service of the poor. Here are some facts about Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain

1. She grew up in Queen Victoria's household.

Victoria Eugenie and her brothers were brought up in the household of Queen Victoria as their mother was only allowed to marry by the British monarch in the condition that she would remain as her companion and personal secretary.

2. She suffered an accident when she was a child. 

 She ended up suffering a serious concussion when she was thrown off her pony at the age of seven.

3. She caught the eyes of King Alfonso XIII

 Victoria Eugenie first met her future husband King Alfonso XIII of Spain when he made an official visit to the United Kingdom in 1905. Though the Spanish monarch originally had his eyes on Princess Patricia of Connaught, his feelings changed when he saw the Princess of Battenberg.

4. She was not initially favored to become the king's bride

Queen Maria Cristina, Alfonso’s widowed mother, initially frowned upon the idea of Victoria Eugenie being her son’s choice of bride. First, she considered her as a non-royal due to her father’s obscure lineage, and would rather have Alfonso marry within her family, specifically the Habsburgs of Austria. Second, the Princess of Battenberg had a 50% probability of being a hemophilia carrier as her mother was a carrier herself and one of her brothers had the dreaded disease, something by which Alfonso was never dissuaded (until later). Third, Victoria Eugenie was a Protestant. The queen, nonetheless, eventually assented to her son.

5. An attempt on her life and the king's was made right after their wedding ceremony

Victoria Eugenie married King Alfonso on May 31, 1906 at the Royal Monastery of San Jerónimo in Madrid, Spain. As the royal procession was heading back to the Royal Palace, an anarchist named Mateu Morral threw a bomb at the royal carriage, exploding at the exact moment Victoria Eugenie was turning her head towards the direction of St. Mary’s Church that Alfonso was showing her, saving the new queen from serious injuries. A number of guards and bystanders were killed and injured, however the royal couple were unharmed.

6. She introduced hemophilia to the Spanish Royal Family

The union produced seven children. Though their first year of marriage was relatively happy, their relationship was marred by the discovery of their eldest son having hemophilia (their last son would also have it). Alfonso blamed and never forgave Victoria Eugenie for bringing the disease into the Spanish royal family, and humiliated her by having affairs and children with numerous women.

7. She selflessly served her subjects

 Despite the deterioration of her marriage and her being not a favorite of the Spanish populace, Victoria Eugenie carried on with her queenly duties by serving the poor and working for hospitals. She helped reorganize the Spanish Red Cross and has been credited for helping advance the healthcare system in the country.

8. She detested bullfighting

 Queen Victoria Eugenie disliked bullfighting, and was once criticized for her disgusted reaction while watching a bullfighting event.

9. She and her family were exiled during the Spanish Revolution

 The family went into exile on April 15, 1931 following the rise of the Second Spanish Republic. They first settled in France before taking up residence in Italy. It was also around his time when Alfonso and Victoria Eugenie decided to go separate ways, but the latter would be at her husband’s side at the time of his death on February 28, 1941.

Victoria Eugenie, aged 81, died on April 15, 1969 in Lausanne, Switzerland. Her remains were initially buried in Sacré Coeur before they were finally transferred in Spain, next to her husband’s, in 1985.