The Marichalar and Sáenz de Tejada family is a large one, with six siblings. The most well-known is undoubtedly Jaime de Marichalar, former husband of Infanta Elena, whose name recently returned to the spotlight following King Juan Carlos’s memoirs. In them, the monarch questioned his paternal influence in raising his son, Froilán. Álvaro de Marichalar, another member of the family and a frequent media personality, also attracts significant—often controversial—headlines. Compared to them, the eldest brother, Amalio, has always preferred to stay out of the limelight.
Since 1979, he has held the titles of ninth Count of Ripalda and Lord of Villa de Tejada. Amalio is the firstborn of the military officer Amalio de Marichalar y Bruguera and María de la Concepción Sáenz de Tejada y Fernández de Bobadilla. His family background is impressive: his maternal grandfather, Ignacio Sáenz de Tejada, was a Supreme Court judge, while his paternal grandfather, the Viscount of Eza, Luis de Marichalar y Monreal, was the founder of the Spanish Legion and mayor of Madrid. The family also descends from the noble Tejada lineage, one of Spain’s oldest aristocratic houses.
Amalio was born in Pamplona, educated at a Jesuit school in Burgos, and later graduated from law school. After spending several years in a management position at the international insurance company Winterthur, he now works in business consulting. He also heads the ‘Soria 21′ forum, established to promote sustainable development in the province, and serves on the board of the European Environmental Foundation, headquartered in Freiburg, Germany. Rarely seen in public, he was spotted at his brother Jaime’s wedding to Infanta Elena in Seville in 1995, as well as at the Asturian princes’ wedding in 2004. His name made headlines in 2009 when he filed a lawsuit against the authorities of Soria and Castilla y León over the expropriation of family land for the construction of an industrial zone.
Since 1989, the Count of Ripalda has been married to Amalia de Corral y Rosillo, whom he reportedly met at an anti-abortion rally. The couple lives in the Chamberí district of Madrid. They have three children — Blanca, Inés, and Amalio — who have already given them two grandchildren. “I’m a rookie grandfather. I’m learning. I take the child, up and down. It keeps you in shape, kids are heavy. Then there’s the stroller. When I have time, I take them to the park. I’m a devoted grandfather and very much a family man,” he shared in one interview. In the same conversation, Amalio described himself as a good dancer, a fan of the San Fermín festival, and a staunch monarchist. His deep religious convictions were evident in 2016, when he was entrusted with delivering the Holy Week sermon in Soria.
The only son of the count, named after his father Amalio, married Carlota Viguera Urbina last year in El Puerto de Santa María. She works as a lawyer at the British firm Ernst & Young, while he specializes in asset management. The event was widely shared on social media by his cousin Victoria Federica. Victoria, the family’s best-known influencer, also supported Amalio’s middle daughter, Inés de Marichalar, at the launch of her new project. Inés recently took charge of the newly launched Bernabéu Market, an ambitious gastronomic venture at gate 54 of the Real Madrid stadium. “My cousin is the best director Bernabéu Market could have. Love you,” wrote Froilán’s sister proudly, highlighting their close relationship.
Incidentally, the Marichalar family has deep aristocratic roots closely connected to the province of Soria in Castilla y León. Their noble lineage is considered one of the most respected in the region. The family gained greater prominence through the marriage of Jaime de Marichalar to Infanta Elena, the eldest daughter of King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía, in 1995. This union brought the Marichalars into the inner circle of the Spanish royal family. Despite the couple’s subsequent divorce in 2010, the family has maintained its position in Spanish high society. The children of Jaime and Infanta Elena, Felipe Juan Froilán and Victoria Federica, are the niece and nephew of the current king, Felipe VI.
