One of the most anticipated events of the year is brewing in Spain’s high society. Rumors have surfaced about the possible engagement of Luis Medina, the younger son of style icon Nati Abascal, to his longtime partner Clara Caruana. If the news is confirmed, 82-year-old Nati Abascal will once again take on the role of mother of the groom (madrina), a part she famously played at her elder son’s wedding.
Luis Medina and Clara Caruana have been together for nearly five years. Their romance began during the height of the pandemic, and the couple has largely kept their relationship out of the public eye. Clara has been a strong support for Luis through difficult times, particularly during legal proceedings related to the so-called “caso mascarillas.” Recently, a Madrid court fully acquitted the businessman of fraud charges linked to the supply of medical materials to the city council, which observers say cleared the way for a new phase in the couple’s relationship.
Luis Medina’s chosen partner, Clara Caruana, comes from a distinguished family. She is the granddaughter of barón de San Petrillo and marquesa de Villamayor de Santiago. Clara received an excellent education; she is qualified in both nursing and law, and holds a master’s degree in management from the prestigious IESE Business School. After working as a nurse in Spain and the UK, she built a career in medical management and now holds executive positions at Clínica Universidad de Navarra in Madrid.
The couple made their first official public appearance in October 2023 at the wedding of Luis’s cousin, the duquesa de Medinaceli, Victoria de Hohenlohe, which took place in Jerez de la Frontera. However, paparazzi had already captured their first joint photos back in December 2022 in Seville. Clara has already become part of the Medina family: she was seen dining with Luis and his mother. The couple also recently attended the charity gala Niños Contra el Cáncer, organized with the participation of the clinic where Caruana works.
The engagement and upcoming wedding of Luis Medina and Clara Caruana will undoubtedly be the main social event in Spain. All eyes will be not only on the bride but also on the groom’s mother. Nati Abascal is renowned for her impeccable taste. At her elder son Rafa Medina’s wedding in 2010, she made a sensation in a sea-green gown by her friend Valentino, completing the look with a traditional mantilla. Society columnists are already speculating whether she will choose an outfit by Valentino or Oscar de la Renta this time.
