In 2025, Almudena Daya de Orleans will have the honor of representing Spain at the renowned Parisian Debutante Ball. This young lady is the granddaughter of the well-known aristocrat Beatrice de Orleans and boasts a truly illustrious lineage, inheriting not only her grandmother’s title but also her impeccable sense of style.
Le Bal des Débutantes, or simply Le Bal, has brought together the brightest members of high society in Paris every year since its founding by Ophélie Renouard in 1992. The event aims to promote talented young people of the new generation and strengthen international ties. Last year, the dance floor at the Shangri-La Hotel shone with Eugenia de Bourbon y Vargas, the daughter of the Dukes of Anjou, and Sofia Yadigaroglu, a young artist with multicultural roots. Now, the torch passes to the goddaughter of King Juan Carlos I.
Almudena is the daughter of Pierre-Louis Daya and Princess Adelaida de Orleans. Her family tree is remarkable, connecting three royal houses that have laid claim to the French throne: the Bourbons, the Orleans, and the Bonapartes. She is currently studying communications and digital media at the prestigious IE University in Madrid. She pursues her cultural interests in a modern format, having created a book club in the form of a podcast.
Despite her noble background, Almudena leads a rather private life. Her social media accounts are set to private, and she rarely attends social events or red carpet gatherings. According to her professional profile on LinkedIn, she interned at the Paris office of Sisley. Until the end of this year, she will be in Chile through a university exchange program. Almudena has two brothers, Gaetano and Diego. It is Diego who will accompany her as her escort at the Paris ball.
The Almudena family has a special connection to the world of haute couture, particularly the house of Dior. At the ball, she will appear in a dress by this iconic brand. This is a family tradition: her mother, Princess Adelaida, also chose a Dior gown for her wedding in Sevilla. That celebration was attended by King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía, as well as the then Prince Felipe.
This bond with Christian Dior goes even deeper, tracing back to her grandmother, Béatrice d’Orléans. For three decades, she served as director of public relations for the French fashion house. The French journalist and aristocrat married Prince Miguel of Orléans in 1967 in Casablanca. Their marriage produced four children: Clotilde, Adelaida, Karl-Philippe, and Francisco-Karl. The couple separated in 1994; after the divorce, Miguel returned to France, while Béatrice stayed in Spain.
It was recently revealed that the founder of the Spanish Luxury Association is soon to become a grandmother again. Her son, Prince Carl-Philippe d’Orléans, and his wife, Princess Naomi, announced they are expecting their first child. This is the prince’s second marriage; his wedding to Naomi-Valeska Kern took place in Orléans in 2023. Both Beatriz and her daughter Adelaide, who is now Client Director at a communications agency in Brussels, are renowned for their elegance and charisma. Clearly, Almudena Dayi de Orléans is confidently following in their footsteps.
Her first step toward joining the ranks of the global elite will be a dance in the luxurious halls of the Shangri-La Hotel, where she will be among daughters of famous directors, business leaders, and millionaires from around the world.
Incidentally, honorary king Juan Carlos I, who is also Almudena’s godfather, remains one of the most significant and controversial figures in Spain’s modern history. He ascended the throne in 1975 after the death of dictator Francisco Franco and played a pivotal role in the country’s transition to democracy. His decisive actions during the attempted coup in 1981 cemented his reputation as a guarantor of constitutional order. For decades, he was seen as a symbol of national unity and modernization. However, the final years of his reign were overshadowed by a series of scandals involving corruption and his personal life, which seriously damaged the monarchy’s reputation. In 2014, Juan Carlos I abdicated in favor of his son, who became King Felipe VI. After stepping down, he retained the title of honorary king. In 2020, amid renewed financial investigations, he left Spain and has since lived in Abu Dhabi. His legacy continues to spark heated debate in Spanish society, dividing opinions on his impact.
