Spanish royal family. Correspondence.-

Lot made up of letters sent by members of the Spanish royal family to Dª Dolores Pizarro, Marquise of the Court.

The letters reflect the complicity and familiarity of the members of the royal family with the Marquise of the Court, including Queen Elizabeth II. In many they address her as "Dolores", the topics that are dealt with are intimate and personal. In some, they also comment on matters of daily life such as parties, trips and even feelings in certain situations. Other letters also reflect the political situation in Spain at that time.

All the letters are handwritten, with date, signature, and some even location that allows us to know the subject matter even if it is not specified. Practically all of them are written on stamped paper.

List of letters contained in the lot:

-Queen Elizabeth II (Madrid 1830 - Paris 1904). Three letters sent from exile. The first from the Pau Palace on October 15, 1868, just a few days after leaving Spain; on paper stamped with the initials YB and royal crown. He writes: “Dolores: You cannot imagine with what satisfaction I have read your letter dated the 9th of this month. I will never forget your good and loyal sentiments, especially those that you express to me in such distressing circumstances. Thank you with all my heart. Your most affectionate Elizabeth." Note that the relationship between the two is so close that the Queen addresses the Marquise of the Court on first-name terms. In a second letter sent in November 1873, he thanked the precious fan that the Marquise de la Corte gave him. In the latest, dated in Paris in March 1890, the Queen in exile returned to the Marquise by first name and confessed to her "I give you infinite thanks for the oranges, limes and pomegranates that your good Husband gave me on your behalf, great It gave me joy to see some fruits from my beloved Spain. I cannot get used to this land and I am extremely grateful to the Emperors and to all French society who go out of their way to give me gifts, but I prefer my Spaniards to the whole world, I do not mourn the Crown for not being in my country, yes”.

-Infanta Luisa Fernanda de Borbón (Madrid 1832-1897), Duchess of Montpensier by marriage to Antonio de Orleans. Six letters dated between 1868 and 1896. In the earliest, the Infanta thanks the Marquesa de la Corte for her congratulations on "the day of the two Antonios" (Antonio de Orleans and his son Antonio María Luis) and comments on her recent moving to Sanlúcar de Barrameda. In the latest letter sent from Seville on January 25, he mentions that his grandson, the Duke of Orleans, has had another fall from his horse and also conveys his concern about the news that he receives from the War in Cuba.

- Antonio María de Orleans (Neully-sur-Seine 1824 - Sanlúcar de Barrameda 1890), Duke of Montpensier. A letter sent from Bologna on March 25, 1885 in which he congratulates the addressee on her name day and reports on vacation plans: “tomorrow we will all leave; dad is going to Sicily, mom is going to Cannes and I am going to see the quadrangle and La Spezia with its fortifications and the arsenal which will be a 15-day trip”.

-Infanta Isabel de Borbón, affectionately known as “La Chata” (1851-1931). Two letters dated 1892 and 1895. In December 1892, he wrote to the Marchioness: “I thanked you for your April letter in reply to mine and now I have to tell you that I will speak to Cardona about your recommended Mr. José Aguilera for honors of Chaplain of Honor and I will see if it is achieved…. “. In the letter sent in December 1895: "I will gladly send you the alms you want and it will not be everything I would like, since you already know that I have many expenses and much to give."

-Queen Mary of the Mercedes (Royal Palace of Madrid 1860-1878), first wife of King Alfonso XII. A letter dated December 15, 1877 in which he shows his affection and asks for the King''s long life. (Letter torn but no loss of paper).

-Infanta Paz de Borbón (Madrid 1862 - Nymphenburg 1946), Princess consort of Bavaria. A letter sent from Nymphenburg on May 11, 1883, shortly after having celebrated her marriage to Luis Fernando de Baviera and having moved to that new city, tells the Marquise de la Corte what her life is like there.

-Infanta Eulalia de Borbón (Madrid 1864 - Irún 1958). Two letters dated 1882 and 1885; in the one of January 8, 1885, he congratulates the new year and comments “as soon as the fear of cholera ends, the earth tremors begin! It is scary to read the descriptions of the misfortunes that occurred in Andalusia. Tomorrow I think the King will leave for the towns of Granada and Malaga”.

-Infanta Isabel de Orleans (Seville 1848- Villamanrique de la Condesa 1919), Countess consort of Paris, daughter of the Dukes of Montpensier. Two letters dated 1873 and 1868; in the latter, he congratulates the Marquise de la Corte on Christmas, and thanks "the mantecados, the figs and the pomegranates that have arrived perfectly and are very good".

In addition to the letters sent to the Marquesa de la Corte by the Royal Family, the following are attached:

-A letter sent by Felipe, who although he signs as "your brother, Felipe", could be Felipe de la Corte, actually his brother-in-law, governor of the Marianas Islands between 1855 and 1866.

-Two letters signed by Julia, unidentified.

-A letter sent by the Count of Torres Cabrera in 1896 (Ricardo Francisco Martel y Fernández de Córdoba, IX Count of Torres Cabrera), commenting on "the state of things in Cabra”; also: "I allow myself to send you a copy of the supplement or our newspaper, and I beg you to tell me everything that you think I should know to avoid friction and disagreements between those who should always be good friends. It is clear that this political consortium between gentlemen must not be seen by those who have been exploiting politics and who have to do everything they can to break it, sowing jealousy and mistrust between one another…”.

-A letter from the Count of Morphy (gentleman of Isabel II and Alfonso XII) dated December 5, 1885, in which, on behalf of the Queen, he expressed his condolences on the death of King Alfonso XII, "on the occasion of the irreparable loss that he has just suffered”.

-A letter from the Bishop of Cádiz, informing that “with due appreciation and gratitude I have just received the very kind letter from you dated today, transcribed verbatim, of order of HRH the Most Serene Mrs. Infanta Dª Eulalia de Borbón, the telegram that Her Majesty the Queen Regent sent her the day before yesterday, accepting with her customary benevolence the recommendation of HRH in favor of the unfortunate police officer sentenced to the last sentence…”

The lot is completed by two photographs of Queen Elizabeth II, dedicated and signed; a photograph of the Infanta Isabel de Borbón, signed and dedicated; a photograph of Queen María de las Mercedes, two photographs of the Infanta Eulalia de Borbón, both signed and dedicated, and one of the Infanta Paz de Borbón, signed and dedicated by the infanta.

PROVENANCE: By line of succession to the current owner .