In
the space of eight years they had seven children, of whom the
eldest and youngest sons were indeed born with haemophilia –
a fact that had dire consequences on their relationship. Alfonso
embarked on extra-marital affairs which produced three illegitimate
children.
King
Alfonso’s political life presents a list of misjudgements,
errors and, often, ignorance. Spain lost its last colonies and
was exhausted by a prolonged war in Morocco. Social unrest at
home, slightly delayed by the military dictatorship of General
Primo de Rivera with the King’s support, led to the proclamation
of the Second Spanish Republic in April 1931. The royal family
had to leave the country, and the King died in exile in Rome
on 28 February 1941.
Daisy first met King Alfonso in England, a country he frequently
visited. He was always there for the Cowes Week in July, followed
by the Polo Week at Eaton, the residence of Daisy’s sister
Shelagh, Duchess of Westminster. He openly admired Shelagh’s
beauty – an admiration which she later flung in her husband’s
face as their marriage fell apart. Both sisters toured Spain
in 1908, and lunched with the King and Queen at the Palace in
Madrid. In October 1908 Alfonso and his wife Ena were planning
to spend a few days in Pless, after their official visit to
Vienna, but he was hurriedly recalled to Madrid – much
to his “disappointment, as he was looking forward to the
shooting”.
Although exiled from Spain, there is still much of his legacy
present there – the use of the name Real (royal)
attached to many football clubs dates from the King’s
grant of the term, and the Copa Alfonso XIII, established in
1902 (later the Copa del Generalísimo and now renamed
the Copa del Rey) is one of the oldest football competitions
in Europe.