New-York tribune., 1909-07-24
KING AIDED ROMANCE
PRINCE ALFONSO,S STORY
OF HIS WEDDING.
Premier Maura Blamed for Forcing
Spanish King to Withdra10
Protection.

Paris July 23-The details surrounding the
romantic marriage Of Prince Alfonso of Bour-
bon-Orleans to Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Co-
burg. which cost him his place as a prince OF
the royal house of Spain and hfs career In ths
Spanish army have come into the possession Of
The Associated Press.
They reveal the fact that King Alfonso. in
stead Of refusing his consent 20 the marriage
as was reported by Madrid dispatches to have
been the case. favored and actually advised the
prince TO marry her secretly. gave him a leave
Of absence for that purpose and personally IN
tervened by telegraph with the Bamberg eccle-
siasticaI authorities, in whose diocese the mar
riage took place to procure dispensation for IT,
This story was obtained from the princes lips
by friends few days ago in Munich. where the
couple are spending the honeymoon. and when It
IS known I'm Europe II is likely TO create
greater sensation than I'D the wedding and the
princes disgrace.
Prince Alfonso and Princess Beatrice first met
on the occasion of King Alfonso's marriage TO
Princess Ena Of Battenberg in 1905. The prince
then was only twenty years old He fell des-
perateIy in love with the princess and proposed
marriage but Princess Beatrice refused him in
most decided fashion. even refusing him per
mission 10 correspond with her Soon after fhl5
the prince entered the military school at Toledo
and subsequently,. in 1907, the couple met again
Queen Mother. knowing Of the princes infatua-
ton. espoused his cause and sought 70 induce
Princess Beatrice TO relent The princess how
ever. said that she never would change her re-
Hgion but finally when she said she had no OBJ
lection ~ rearing her children Catholics. the
Queen Mother replied:
Then there is not the slightest difhculty 10
the union I always said that II had had
second son he should have married Protest
ant" She added that she herself had Prot
estant ancestors.
SPANISH KINGS ALLEGED PLEDGE,
Later. al La Granja. King Alfonso formally
asked the hand Of Princess Beatrice for his
cousin, and when the princess on that occasion
raised the question OF religion his majesty said,
Il give YOU my word Of honor there Will not be
the slightest difficulty The prince then again
proposed and was accepted. and the couple. who
had not vet apprised Beatrice's mother. the
Duchess of saxe-Coburg and Gotha with ditii-
Guilty prevented King Alfonso from officially an
uo.uriug the engagement.
When be returned 20 Madrid King Alfonso
asked Premier Maura what he thought Of the
marriage and the Premier replied that the mar
rface ~ an 1nfante 81 Spain TO a Protestant
could not take place account ~ the difficulties
1t would cause the government King Alfonso
WAS absolutely furious
Princess Beatrice because OF her friendship
for Queen Victoria. said size would give up the
prince. anJ King Alfonso summoned the prince
20 Madrid and asked what 10 was his intention
to do In the matter The prince replied that he
had given his word to make Beatrice his wife.
and. besides his personal feelings would not
permit him to retire from the proposed union.
and that he intended To marry the princess re
gardlcss % consequences.
King Alfonso warmly congratulated the prince
on his attitude saying that his reply just
what he had expected. that it worthy OF
Bourbon. and even II the constitution prevented
him giving official consent To- the marriage
without the approval of his ministers he. as Al
fonso of Bourbon, would DO everything In his
power for the couple.
Princess Beatrice then left Madrid and Prince
Alfonso upon the advice OF the King. went to
see Pope Plus and asked for a dispensation for
a mixed marriage. The Spanish government.
meantime. warned the Vatican OF the proposed
union. and the diSpensaton neither was granted
nor actually refused After this the couple
waited patiently considering themselves afti-
anced as also did King Alfonso. who visited
Princess Beatrice at Munich last summer
ALFONSO URGED SECRET MARRIAGE.
When the prince was graduated from the mill
tary school at Toledo July II he immed-
atey volunteered to go TO the front as the war
in Morocco had broken out King Alfonso
granted the prince three days leave Of alb
sence before going to MeIilla. and urged him
secretly to marry Princess Beatrice saying that
he would wira the Bishop Of Bamberg to grant
a dispcnsution.
Prince Alfonso arrived in Coburg on July II.
an,eth civil marriage took place that morning.
A. 2 o'clock in the afternoon the priest at CO.
burg received telegraphic dispensaton from
the Rishop of BaI3bcrg and at $50 p the
catholic ceremony performed. II was hot
intended that the news of the marriage should
he made public but IT printed in Spain. and
tba roval decree Of the degradation of Prince
Alfonso followed
The prince in concluding his story to lis
friend said:
'.AIaura. the head Of the Clerical party In
,.raip and because he holds majority in Par
lduent forced the King to kick his own coustA
ont of the country and the army and to strip hlm
80 tttIe and honors for the crime OF marrying
protestant who is a niece Of King Edward ana
. first cousin Of the Emperors Of Germany and
Russia"
The prince again has teegraphed King Al
forso asking to be allowed 10 60 to the front
The Infanta Euae. the princes mother VINO
"a here is almost III from worry over the ruin
of ner sons career sac knew that both me
spauish and British royal families were in per-
feet sympathy with the marriage.
1rr1oArc 1pDTcTNE COSTS HIS LIFE