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Sunday, November 14, 2021

LEANDRO DE BOURBON: RECOGNITION FOR AN EXTRAMARITAL CHILD OF KING ALFONSO XIII

Stage and silent screen actress Carmen Ruiz Moragas was known to be the Mistress of King Alfonso III of Spain. Carmen had two children with him. One of them, son Leandro Ruiz Moragas, who was born in 1929, sued to be allowed to use the surname Bourbon which is the surname of the Spanish Royal family.  (I know it's difficult to know considering all the titles and changes in titles .) He waged quite a campaign including writing a couple books and eventually was granted what he wanted. By then his sister was deceased so the name was only his to use.

First, his books are in Spanish. There is a French edition.


This one is a biography.  

The title in Spanish is Alfonso XIII Vista Por Su Hijo. 

In English that is Alfonso XIII Seen By His Son

I was unable to read this book.

 



This one is called El Bastardo Real in Spanish

In English that is The Royal Bastard.

Again, I was unable to read this book.

According to Spanish language Wikipedia, Alfonso was ten years old when he was told who his father was and his education was paid for with money set aside by his father for that purpose. However, it was a private rather than public acknowledgement.  In 2002 he filed to have his parentage recognized and on the basis that the King's name appeared on his original birth certificate, he was grated in 2003 to use the surname Bourbon Ruiz. No DNA test was required.  There were some disputes over if he also deserved a title and to be called Royal Highness or if he or his children should be in line for the throne of Spain.  Suffice to say, there was no need, even if he was calculated to be 10th in line, as the legitimate heirs were in place.  However, Leandro's children are also allowed to use the Bourbon surname.  Both Leandro and his sister had children and he is known to have grandchildren as well. He died in 2016.


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