The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-07-24
WEDS THE PRINCESS
LOSES CAREER
PRINCE ALFoNso's MARRIAGE TO
BEATRICE WAS URGED RY
THE KING.

Paris, July 23.-The details concern
ing the romantic marriage of Prince
Alfonso of Bourbon orleans to Prin-
cess Beatrice of Sake Coburg, which
cost him his position as a prince OF
the royal house of Spain, and his
career in the Spanish army, today
came into the possession Of the Asso-
ciated Press. They reveal the fact
that King Alfonso instead of refusing
his consent to the marriage as was
reported by the dispatches, actually
advised the prince to marry her Sc
cretly and personally interviewed by
telegraph with the Hamburg ecclesias-
teal authorities in whose diocese the
marriage took place, to procure dis
pensation.
This story was obtained from the
prince and when 1t becomes known in
Europe it is likely to create greater
sensation than did the wedding and
the princes disgrace. Prince Alfonso
and Princess Beatrice first met in 1906
on the occasion of King Alfonso's
marriage. The prince then only 20
years old, proposed marriage; but
Beatrice refused him. In 1907 both tn.
queen and the queen mother sought
to induce Beatrice to relent. The
princess, however, declared that she
never would change her religion, but
finally when she said she had no OBJ
lection to rearing her children as
Catholics, the queen mother REPLIED
~. 41.c
ficulty to the union"
Later at La Granja King Alfonso
formally asked the hand of Princess
Beatrice for his cousin. and gave his
word of honor there would not be the
slightest difficulty concerning the re-
ligious phase of the union, The prince
then proposed again and was accepted.
When he returned to Madrid. King
Alfonso asked Premier Maura what
he thought Of the marriage and the
premier replied that the marriage ~
an infant of Spain to Protestant
could not take place on account Of
government difficulties. King Alfonso
was furious.
Princess Beatrice, because Of her
friendship for Queen Victoria. said she
would give up the prince and King
Alfonso summoned the prince to Mad
rid and asked him what he intended
to do. The prince replied that he in
tended to marry the princess regard
less OF consequences. King Alfonso
warmly congratulated the prince, say
ing that his reply wi>s worthy Of
Bourbon and even If the constitutions
prevented him from giving official con-
sent he, as Alfonso of Bourbon, would
do everything in his power for tho
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
q mixed marriage The Spanish gov
eminent meantime warned the vatican
and the dispensation neither was
granted nor actually refused
When the prince graduated from the
military school at Toledo, July II, he
volunteered to go to the front in Mo-
rocco King Alfonso granted the
prince three days leave of absenc.
and urged him in secret to marry the
princess, declaring he would Wire the
bishop Of hamburg to grant dspen-
sation.
Prince Alfonso arrived i'm Coburg
July Is, and the civil marriage took
place that morning. At o'clock in
the afternoon the priest at Coburg
received Geographic dispensallu,.
from the bishop of hamburg and then
the Catholic ceremony was performed
1T WAS mot fnfnndal that tha pau,c -,