The revelations of the ‘Queen of Hearts,’ Isabel Preysler, as told in her autobiography, have caused quite a stir in society. The book not only shot to the top of the bestseller lists but also sparked a wave of public discussion, once again proving the enduring fascination with the life of Julio Iglesias’s ex-wife and Miguel Boyer’s widow. Among the many personal stories, a special place is given to the account of her mother, Betty Arrastia, and the difficult period in their relationship.
Isabel was always very close to her mother. Betty was her support and role model in everything, and her home in Madrid’s prestigious Puerta de Hierro district truly was the family’s anchor. Her mother’s death was a tremendous loss for the entire family. It especially affected her granddaughter, Tamara Falcó, who shared her grandmother’s deep religious faith.
It was precisely Betty Arrastia’s strong religious beliefs that became a stumbling block, leading to a two-year estrangement between mother and daughter. Having endured the tragic loss of three of her children, Betty found solace in her faith. She was quite fond of her son-in-law Julio Iglesias and held out hope until the end that her daughter’s marriage would survive. However, the growing distance between the couple and the singer’s repeated infidelities made separation inevitable—something her mother-in-law could never accept.
Another factor that deepened the rift was the annulment procedure. The fact that the process was initiated and finalized in the United States rather than in Rome rendered it worthless and illegitimate in the eyes of Betty Arrastia. This disagreement created a real chasm between them.
The conflict became so intense that Isabel seriously feared her mother would not attend her wedding to Carlos Falcó, Marqués de Griñón. Fortunately, thanks to the intervention of relatives and common sense, Betty was present at the celebration and shared in her daughter’s happiness. Betty Arrastia passed away on August 22, 2021, at the age of 98. Her death in her Madrid home in Puerta de Hierro was a severe blow to all her loved ones. Even her grandson Enrique Iglesias, who usually avoids family gatherings, flew in from the United States to say goodbye to the woman who played such a significant role in his life.
