A longstanding tradition of the House of Alba has been broken. Cayetano Martínez de Irujo, one of the late Duchess’s sons, was unable to organize the customary memorial Mass at Seville’s Hermandad de Los Gitanos church, a place his mother dearly loved. The event, which each year brought together family and friends to honor Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, who passed away in 2014, was canceled this time for a very serious reason.
Unexpected health problems for the aristocrat were to blame. Shortly before his recent wedding to Bárbara Mirjan, he underwent back surgery. The procedure was initially considered minor, with a quick recovery expected. However, the postoperative period was complicated by an infection that caused severe pain. Prescribed antibiotics failed to bring relief, and doctors insisted on strict immobilization, making it impossible for him to travel to Seville or participate in arranging the Mass.
Nevertheless, the eleventh anniversary of the Duchess’s passing did not go unnoticed. Instead of a grand service in Seville, a modest private gathering was held at Liria Palace in Madrid. Attending were the Duchess’s widower, Alfonso Diez, along with Carlos Fitz-James Stuart and Chandra Falcó, who gathered in an intimate setting to honor the memory of this remarkable woman.
Despite current challenges, the family is already making grand plans for the future. Cayetano is the driving force behind an ambitious celebration dedicated to his mother’s centenary, which will be marked on March 28, 2026. He hopes the occasion will bring together all his brothers and sisters. The celebration will not be private; on the contrary, its goal is to reflect the duchess’s closeness to the people and her vibrant, genuine character.
The program promises to be eventful, with exhibitions, conferences, and various performances scheduled. Key highlights include the exhibition “Cayetana. Life in the Palacio de Dueñas”, the premiere of the documentary “Cayetana. A Duchess for Everyone”, and the grand flamenco show “Cayetana and Her Passion” at the Maestranza Theater. Many prominent figures are expected to take part in the festivities, including former Prime Minister Felipe González, Carmen Tello, and the bullfighter José María Manzanares.
Incidentally, the late Duchess of Alba remains a figure of immense fascination not only in Spain, but worldwide. María del Rosario Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva holds a place in the Guinness World Records as the most titled aristocrat on the planet, with more than forty titles to her name. She embodied the history of Spanish nobility, yet consistently broke the mold. Her eccentric style, striking appearance, and passionate love for flamenco, bullfighting, and the arts made her a one-of-a-kind personality. The Duchess was married three times, and her last marriage to civil servant Alfonso Diez, who was 24 years her junior, caused quite a stir. To secure her six children’s approval for the union, she had to distribute a significant portion of her vast fortune among them in advance. Her legacy consists not only of palaces and lands across Spain, but also one of the world’s greatest private art collections, featuring masterpieces by Goya, Velázquez, Titian, and Rembrandt. For Spaniards, she was far more than just an aristocrat—she was a true national treasure and a symbol of independence and devotion to her country’s culture.
