Sometimes the lives of parents and children intersect in the most tragic ways, creating dark parallels that capture the imagination. Spanish high society has seen several such sorrowful cases: the untimely passing of Elena Arnedo, former spouse of Miguel Boyer, and her daughter Laura; the fate of Amparo Illana, wife of Adolfo Suárez, and her daughter Mariam. To this mournful list belongs the story of Matilde Figueroa and her famous daughter, Marta Chávarri. Each of these events became a major topic in the society pages, leaving a deep wound in the hearts of loved ones and sparking broad public discussion.
The recent death of Marta Chávarri came as a complete shock to many. The scandal surrounding her romance with Alberto Cortina, now married to Elena Cue, had long since faded away. In people’s memory, she remained a style icon—an elegant woman whose reputation was unfairly trampled by the press and public opinion. Her passing has once again sparked reflection on the fragility of life and the unpredictable turns of fate that have haunted her family.
The only son of Marta, Álvaro Falcó, now happily married to Isabelle Junot, lost both his parents in a very short time. His father, the Marquess de Cubas—whose title Álvaro inherited—passed away in October 2020. His mother, Marta Chávarri, died on July 21, 2023. It was an extremely difficult time for the family, further shadowed by the passing of the Marquess de Griñón, Álvaro’s uncle. Álvaro never had the chance to meet his maternal grandmother, Matilde Figueroa, who was the sister of renowned journalist Natalia Figueroa, the wife of legendary singer Raphael.
Matilde Figueroa married diplomat Tomás Chávarri. They had five children together: Marta, Isabel, Gonzalo, Álvaro, and María. Only three of them are alive today. Their brother Álvaro died in a motorcycle accident in 1991 at just 28 years old. Matilde herself came from a distinguished line; she was the daughter of the Marquess de Santa-Floro and the granddaughter of the Count of Romanones, placing her family among Spain’s leading aristocratic dynasties. Her life was cut short by a brain infarction when her daughter Marta was only 19. This tragedy forever changed her children’s lives—they grew up without a mother’s support.
The loss of her sister was a devastating blow for Natalia Figueroa. She took on the role of a second mother to her nieces and nephews, surrounding them with care and affection. Natalia was very close to Matilde, a modest and reserved woman who maintained a cosmopolitan lifestyle due to her husband’s profession. The diplomatic career of Tomás Chavarri began in the 1950s. His first foreign assignment was at the Spanish embassy’s trade office in Bern (Switzerland) in 1962. This was followed by a move to Washington. In 1978, he headed Spain’s Permanent Delegation to the OECD, and five years later, was appointed ambassador to Saudi Arabia, where he served until 1987.
In August 1979, Matilde Figueroa was hospitalized at the Puerta de Hierro Clinic in critical condition after suffering a massive brain hemorrhage. Doctors fought for her life, but a few days later, on August 22, her heart stopped. Matilde always shunned public attention, so there are almost no photographs of her—except for a few candid shots from her sister Natalia and Rafael’s wedding in Venice. This only highlights her desire to stay in the shadows, away from the curious eyes of the press.
Incidentally, her daughter, Marta Chávarri, was one of the most prominent socialites in Spain during the 1980s—a true “it-girl” of her era. Her marriage to Fernando Falcó, Marquess of Cubas, made her a central figure in Madrid’s aristocratic circles. However, everything changed when a scandal erupted over her affair with the married financier Alberto Cortina. The climax of the media frenzy came when Diez Minutos magazine published a paparazzi photo showing Marta leaving a hotel without underwear. This image shattered her reputation and her marriage. The ensuing divorce and public condemnation forced her to withdraw from the spotlight for many years. She almost completely disappeared from public view, choosing a secluded life devoted to her son. Her sudden death in 2023 came as a shock, prompting memories not only of the scandals, but also of the enormous price she paid for the right to love and to be herself in the conservative society of her time.
