King Felipe's aunt, Infanta Margarita of Spain, is celebrating a very special milestone.
Margarita was joined by her family for a special lunch at a restaurant on Claudio Coello Street in Madrid for her 87th birthday last week. The Spanish royal was seen in pictures published by HELLO!'s sister paper, HOLA!, accompanied by her daughter, María Zurita, who was carrying a birthday cake, and grandson Carlos, who was born in 2018.
Margarita, who has been blind since birth, is the aunt of reigning King Felipe VI and the younger sister of former monarch King Juan Carlos.
The granddaughter of Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenie is also known as the Duchess of Soria. Born on 6 March 1939, she is the third child and younger daughter of Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona, and Princess Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies.
Spain's most down-to-earth royal
Margarita famously renounced her right to the Spanish throne after her wedding in 1972 when she married Carlos Zurita, a doctor. They share two children, Alfonso and Maria.
© Europa Press via Getty ImagesHer older sister, Pilar, also renounced her succession rights. Pilar died in 2020 at the age of 83 after being diagnosed with colon cancer. Margarita once worked as a childcare specialist and is the honorary president of Madrid's branch of UNICEF.
On 27 May 1981, she became known as the Duchess of Hernani following the death of her cousin, Manfredo. Manfredo requested that Margarita inherit the Dukedom following his death.
Paying tribute
In January, Infanta Margarita attended the funeral service for Princess Irene of Greece, who had passed away earlier that month at the age of 85.
© Getty ImagesShe was seen arriving at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Madrid, accompanied by her family. Royal attendees included Queen Letizia and her daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia. Princess Irene was the younger sister of King Constantine II of Greece and Queen Sofia of Spain.
The royal household said at the time: "Their Majesties the King and Queen and Her Majesty Queen Sofia regret to announce the passing of Her Royal Highness Princess Irene of Greece at 11:40 a.m. today at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid." Queen Sofia had cancelled scheduled engagements in order to be by her side.
