While all attention was focused on the upcoming wedding of Cayetano Martínez de Irujo in a Seville church, another, equally important yet completely private, family celebration was taking place at Madrid’s Liria Palace, the Alba family’s ancestral residence. In an atmosphere of utmost confidentiality, the Dukes of Huescar and Counts of Osorno chose to hold the baptism of the dynasty’s two youngest members, shielded from outsiders and camera flashes.
The ceremony took place in the palace’s private chapel, underscoring its intimate nature. The rite was conducted by Ignacio Jiménez Sánchez-Dalp, a priest long trusted by the family and spiritual advisor to many of its members. It was he who, the next day, officiated the wedding of the Duke of Arjona in Andalusia. The children baptized were Fernando Fitz-James Stuart Palazuelo, the third child of Sofía Palazuelo and Fernando Fitz-James Stuart, born in September, and his cousin Fadrique Fitz-James Stuart Corsini, the second son of Belén Corsini and Carlos Fitz-James Stuart, who was born just three months ago.
The circle of invited guests was extremely limited. Only the closest relatives attended the ceremony: Matilde Solís, the mother of Carlos and Fernando, their brother Borja Moreno, as well as the children’s great-uncle Fernando Martínez de Irujo. On Sofía Palazuelo’s side, her mother and her brother Beltrán were present. The choice of names for the heirs was no coincidence and carries deep historical significance. Fernando was named after his father, the Duke of Huéscar, and also in honor of the great 16th-century Duke of Alba, Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel. The name Fadrique is also closely tied to the family’s history and refers to the era of the Catholic Monarchs, commemorating Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo y Enríquez.
There have been no official comments regarding the reasons for such secrecy, but several theories are actively discussed in Madrid’s social circles. The main assumption is that the families did not want to shift attention away from the wedding of Cayetano Martínez de Irujo and Bárbara Mirján, which was to be held the following day in Seville. Most members of the Alba clan were already in the Andalusian capital preparing for the marriage, which explains the decision to hold the christening in an intimate setting. Additionally, choosing Friday for the ceremony, rather than the traditional weekend, may have been dictated by the personal schedule of the Counts of Osorno. On Saturday, Carlos Fitz-James Stuart was serving as best man at a friend’s wedding in Comillas, making it impossible for him to attend his uncle’s celebration.
