Carmen Fernández de Araoz, known in elite circles as Piru Urquijo, recently celebrated her 90th birthday. The occasion was marked in July at her home, bringing together her large family. Over the course of her long life, she has become the matriarch of a vast clan, thanks to her 62-year marriage to Jaime Urquijo y Chacón. Today, she has 12 grandchildren and just as many great-grandchildren. Piru is the paternal grandmother of Teresa Urquijo y Moreno, the 28-year-old wife of Madrid’s 48-year-old mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida. Their wedding last autumn was one of the capital’s main society events, attended by distinguished members of the royal family, including Infanta Elena and Cristina. The couple recently welcomed their first child, named Lucas after his maternal grandfather.
Piru Urquijo is rightly considered one of the great ladies of Madrid society. Despite her advanced age, she has lost neither her sense of humor nor her impeccable style. She is often seen at family celebrations in long floral print dresses and striking hats, or in vichy-checked suits while strolling through the prestigious Salamanca district. Her home, located near the Jesuit church San Francisco de Borja—where her granddaughter Teresa was married—remains a social hub for the aristocracy. Within its walls, she has hosted King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía, as well as Bulgaria’s Tsar Simeon, on several occasions.
She was born on August 2, 1935. She is the granddaughter of the renowned doctor and philosopher Gregorio Marañón and the third of four children in the family of government lawyer and Bank of Spain manager Carlos Fernández de Araoz. On July 4, 1957, Piru married Jaime Urquijo y Chacón, son of the Marquess of Amurrio. Jaime held prominent positions as head of “Energía e Industrias Aragonesas” and vice president of “Tabacalera”. The wedding ceremony took place at the San Francisco el Grande church in Madrid. The bride was escorted down the aisle by her grandfather, Gregorio Marañón. It was one of the most lavish weddings of its time, bringing together the entire political and aristocratic elite. Piru chose an elegant dress made of organza and lace, completing her look with a delicate tulle veil.
Piru and Jaime’s marriage lasted 62 years, until his passing in 2019. Those close to them describe their relationship as a profound story of love, understanding, and partnership. They built a large and happy family, raising six children: Juan, Cristina, Gonzalo, Lucas, Victoria, and Pedro. However, their lives were marked by tragedy: in 1995, their eldest son Juan died in a plane crash in Paris. He was married to Beatriz Zobel de Ayala, a member of one of the wealthiest families in the Philippines. The other children also formed strong unions with prominent families.
The fourth son, Lucas, father of the wife of Madrid’s mayor, holds the position of communications director at a major pharmaceutical company. His wife, Beatriz Moreno y de Borbón, is a cousin of King Juan Carlos. Their marriage produced Teresa and Juan Urquijo. Piru is also a great-aunt to Sofía Palazuelo, another prominent figure in society columns.
Piru Urquijo has always had a passion for travel and country living. Many family events take place at the ‘Los Molinillos’ estate, a vast property acquired by her father-in-law in 1939. This is where she spends a significant part of the year. The estate, located near Madrid, is surrounded by gardens and filled with antiques Piru collected during her travels. After the Civil War, she restored the property together with a Californian architect. It was also here that her granddaughter Teresa became engaged to José Luis Martínez-Almeida.
For decades, Piru was the leading hostess of salons in Spanish high society. Her circle of friends included Salvador Dalí and Gala, writer Ernest Hemingway, and even Fidel Castro. She and her husband were close friends with writer Robert Graves. She shares especially warm relations with the honorary kings Juan Carlos and Sofia, who were frequent guests at her Madrid home. Piru Urquijo happily watches her grandchildren and great-grandchildren start their own families, and holds great affection for the mayor of Madrid, appreciating his intellect and sense of humor. She is delighted with her latest great-grandchild and optimistically declares her intention to live to 120.
