THE PRINCE OF ASTURIAS
One year to a month after the Royal marriage Spain’s happiness and
satisfaction in the new Queen were made complete by the birth of an heir
to the throne. The official title of the newcomer, as heir apparent, is
Prince of Asturias, and as such he is always spoken of, but in addition,
he has a string of names almost as long as his Royal father’s string of
polo ponies. He is now three years of age and accomplished in many
things, but he cannot yet repeat his full name! Indeed, it seems
probable that he will be considerably older before he can memorise them
all in proper sequence. Fancy this wee boy learning to write: Alfonso
Pius Christian Edward Francis William Charles Henry Eugene Ferdinand
Anthony Venancio, Prince of Asturias, heir to the thrones of Spain,
Castile, Leon, Aragon, the Two Sicillies, Jerusalem, Navarre, Granada,
Toledo, Valencia, Galicia, Majolica, Minorca, Seville, Sardinia,
Cordova, Corsica, Murcie, Jean, Algarne, Algeciras, Gibraltar, the
Canary Islands, the Oriental and Occidental Indies; Archdukedom of
Austria, dukedoms of Burgundy, Brabant and Milan; Count of Hapsburg,
Flanders, the Tyrol and Barcelona; Seigneur of Biscay and Molina! This
is official. Doubters may turn to the almanach de Gotha, page 34, and
read in verification.
The joy not only of the Royal Family but of the whole Spanish people may
be conceived at the birth of this child, for this is the first son born
to a reigning King in Spain in four generations.
With these numerous names and appendages it is not surprising to find
Queen Victoria’s first born ushered into the world with considerable
ceremony.
In olden days changeling children were sometimes foisted upon a nation,
and in certain historical instances such imposed children have succeeded
to thrones and held sway while the _camarilla_ which perpetrated the
trick have fattened and grown rich. To thwart these daring humbugs laws
were enacted in many countries to the effect that the birth of a Royal
child, especially an heir, must be in the presence of a certain number
of responsible dignitaries of the Court. Spain still technically holds
that the Prime Minister must be present, and according to tradition all
of the ministers, grandees and foreign ambassadors and ministers present
in the city shall be summoned to the Palace. The King then marches
through the room into which these numerous privileged ones have been
gathered bearing the Royal child on a silver salver.
The exuberant happiness of King Alfonso may be surmised from the report
of all present on the memorable occasion that as the proud father passed
through the chamber, his face transformed into one great smile, he
could only say: “He weighs four kilos! He weighs four kilos!”
One week later the baby Prince was baptised in the chapel of the Royal
Palace, the Bishop of Toledo, Primate of Spain, officiating. Be it said
that his serene Highness was quite on his dignity on this his first
public appearance. Only once did he jeopardise the quiet of the solemn
occasion and that at the font when he made known his presence by one
long, loud baby shriek--which afforded as much amusement to his father
the King, as it did embarrassment to the most reverend Prelate.
This ceremony was in ample keeping with all the traditions of this most
ceremonious of courts. Vienna and St. Petersburg alone of all the
capitals of Europe are more punctilious than Madrid in the observance of
traditional functions. For Madrid and the Spanish Court be it said,
however, that these ceremonies are observed in an amiable and happy
fashion which is possible only in a country where grace and charm and
warmth of nature are characteristic of the temper and temperament of the
people.
On this occasion the chapel in the Royal Palace in Madrid was occupied
to its utmost capacity, chiefly by the grandees of Spain, visiting
royalties, and the ambassadors and ministers of foreign countries.
The wonderful tapestries which are one of the proudest art possessions
of Spain and which are only displayed on very special occasions were
brought out to line the walls, while the Halberdier Guards who lined the
aisles added colour to the setting. The ladies present all wore
_mantillas_ while the men were in full uniform or evening dress. The
Christening procession was one of glittering and imposing magnificence.
First came the mace-bearers followed by the ushers in double file, then
two long lines of Chamberlains in gold-laced coats and white silk
stockings, after them the grandees of Spain in their striking military
uniforms and feathered cocked hats. Then came seven specially picked
grandees carrying seven salvers on which were such requisites for the
holy ceremony as a salt-cellar, a gold basin and ewer, a cut lemon, a
lace towel, a cape, and a large cake. Behind this party came the royal
Prince himself, ensconced in rare and beautiful laces. His fair little
uncovered head and tiny face, and his clenched fists were the admiration
of all beholders. He was in the arms of the Marquesa de los Llanos, who
is the chief of his retinue, and on one side walked the Papal Nuncio,
who is the representative of His Holiness, the Pope, as godfather, and
on the other was the Queen-mother, as the godmother. The King strode
behind. The Infantes and Infantas followed, with their suites. The
Infanta Maria Teresa, sister of the King, and her husband, Infante
Fernando, being only convalescent from measles, were unable to be
present. Don Carlos, the widowed husband of the King’s late sister, the
Infanta Mercedes, led little Prince
[Illustration: THE PRINCE OF ASTURIAS.]
Alfonso, who was known as the heir to the throne until the birth of his
little cousin.
The little sister of the ex-heir was led by the hand by the Infanta
Isabel, at whose side walked Princess Henry of Battenberg, beautifully
robed in grey velvet and ermine. Prince Arthur of Connaught, with
Captain Wyndham and the Princes from Russia and Germany, and other Royal
representatives, all had their places in the procession. China was also
represented. The personal staff of the King was conspicuous, and the
halberdier band of music marshalled the glittering throng to the chapel.
The altar was decorated with white flowers. The historic font in which
the members of the Royal Family have for centuries been baptised was in
the centre of the chapel.
Thirty-six Bishops and four Cardinals officiated. The Royal child was
carried in the arms of his grandmother, the Dowager Queen Maria
Cristina. The water sprinkled on his brow was from the River Jordan. The
christening ceremony over, the King decorated his infant son with the
Order of the Golden Fleece, the Order of Isabella the Catholic, and the
Collar of Charles III. All the ladies of the Court were in full dress.
The little Prince thrived as a baby, and he was a sturdy chap of almost
three when I went to Spain to write this story. In Madrid, I found him
already a feature of the capital. Each day, when it was nearing the time
for him and his little brother and sister (who have since arrived) to
go for their afternoon drive, a great crowd would collect before the
Palace gates to catch a fleeting glimpse of him who will (D. V.) one day
reign over them.
On his first birthday, the Prince of Asturias was formally enrolled as a
member of one of the crack royal regiments in his father’s kingdom. The
regimental register for that day describes the new recruit as “resident
in the province of Madrid: age one year; and a _bachelor_!” It was the
day before his third birthday that I first saw him. He had profited by
his military connection during these two years, for he had learned to
salute as properly as any soldier, to wear a uniform, and to play with
soldier toys. Incidentally, he was still a bachelor.
This early martial association is a custom common to kings and princes.
Not infrequently, heirs apparent are made honorary commanders of
regiments before they reach the age of five, and all through boyhood a
military uniform is the favourite costume of many of them. King Alfonso
nearly always wore a military uniform during his childhood and
youth--but Don Alfonso has never been other than a King. A nation was
already his at birth, an army, a navy and more palaces than he could
ever know what to do with.
From the day the Prince of Asturias became a member of his regiment, a
bed was set aside and will always be reserved for him in the regimental
barracks, and the regulation plate, mug and spoon of his equipment kept
ready for his use. An incident of that memorable first birthday of the
little Prince which must have bored the young man intensely was the
reading to him of the penal laws in order that thereafter he might not
be able to justify any infraction of discipline by maintaining his
ignorance of these laws. The papers which he was obliged to sign were
marked with an “X” signifying “The Prince of Asturias, his mark.”
One day, when I was in the Palace in Madrid, the little Prince was
discovered in one of the chambers of the private apartments, playing
with the sword of one of his father’s aides. My companion looked at the
little fellow and the sword which was bigger than he, and said: “What
does your Royal Highness propose to do with that sword?” The Prince
paused in his play and after a moment’s hesitation replied: “Have no
fear, no harm shall come to you!”
That afternoon, His Royal Highness (as he is addressed at Court) went
riding. His horseback lessons began when he was a little more than two
and one-half years old. If he does not prove the best horseman in his
kingdom, as is his father to-day, it will not be for lack of early
training.
The Crown Prince has one remarkable faculty which is already
phenomenally developed, and which is bound to prove of enormous value to
him in the future. That is an exceptional memory for faces--and names.
He knows perfectly well every face about the palace, and certain members
of the court whom he sees but seldom he remembers as readily as those
he sees every day. For many of the intimates of the household he has his
favourite nicknames, usually established by his Royal Highness when the
proper names are too long or too difficult for his baby mouth. The Royal
Governess is the Marquesa Maria de Salamanca. This is rather sonorous
for the Prince so he always calls her “Mia-manca,” a natural contraction
of the two names. This trait is one that was very pronounced in his
father when he was a child. Many anecdotes are still current of the
embarrassment the baby King Alfonso would frequently cause his nurses
and governesses and even his mother, the Queen Regent Maria Cristina, by
the curious and quaint names he would dub various courtiers and grandees
who were frequently staid and dignified old gentlemen.
There is something unmistakably regal in the manner and bearing of the
Prince of Asturias. He seems to have a full realisation of who he is,
and of his own importance. This spirit is naturally fostered by his
environment. Officers and soldiers everywhere salute him, while
courtiers and populace uncover when he approaches. Being the recipient
of universal obeisance almost from his cradle accustoms him to continual
homage and he comes to expect it from everyone.
The coachman Corral who drives the big mules to the nursery coach is a
prime favourite with the princes. One day, just as they were about to
go for their afternoon drive the Prince of Asturias went to the King
and asked for a cigar. The King was greatly surprised at the request,
coming from the Prince who was then not much over two, but he gave the
young man a cigar and watched with much curiosity what he would do with
it. The cigar was carefully carried throughout the drive and on the
return to the Palace the Prince handed it to the coachman. Since then he
frequently brings a cigar with him for the coachman, but if for any
reason he becomes displeased with the coachman over something during the
drive he carries it back upstairs for another day when the coachman is
better behaved!
The Prince of Asturias has his mother’s fondness for sweet chocolate,
and Her Majesty keeps a supply always at hand to reward the princes for
good behaviour, and every day after luncheon they each get a piece
anyway.
The Queen was taken ill during the week that the King was in London
attending the funeral of King Edward. The Prince of Asturias seemed
considerably worried when he learned that his mother would not be down
for luncheon. The Queen Mother, Maria Cristina, who lives in the Royal
Palace, noticed the anxious look on the face of her grandson and
inquired what was the trouble.
“I am thinking,” he replied, “that if mother is ill and father is in
London--who will give us chocolate to-day after lunch?”
One afternoon the Prince of Asturias was naughty. In the Casa de Campo
he had been very cross, and had been reprimanded. That night at
supper-time when the dessert was placed before him he said: “To-day I
was naughty. I do not deserve these sweets. Dessert is not for naughty
children. But before I was naughty; now I am good. Now I deserve my
sweets, so I shall take this dessert.”
This self-depreciation as well as appreciation is one of his
characteristics. He is as quick to admit his own disapproval of himself,
as he is to insist on approval at other times.
One day when His Majesty was going to a pigeon shoot just outside of
Madrid he took the Prince of Asturias along in the automobile. The
little Prince was greatly pleased at this and very proud. During the
next several days he went about the Palace telling everybody how pleased
he had been with the excursion.
Travelling also delights the little man. He has from his earliest months
been interested in railroad trains and the journeys to Seville in the
winter time, to La Granja in the spring, and to San Sebastian in the
summer are great treats to the nursery.
When the Prince of Asturias was about a year old the Royal Family moved
to La Granja. One afternoon the Queen was walking in the gardens with
one of her ladies-in-waiting when it occurred to her that she would like
to go outside of the Palace grounds for a stroll down one of the
country lanes. So without any other escort than her one lady companion
she started out. Presently they met an old peasant woman trudging toward
them carrying a basket. As she came nearer she recognised the Queen and
moved toward her. The lady-in-waiting, not understanding the motive of
the peasant woman, quickly stepped in between her and the Queen, but the
Queen at once said, “No--let her speak. She has something she wants to
say to me.” The woman then told the Queen that in the basket she carried
a litter of baby rabbits and they were so pretty and cunning that she
thought the little Prince would like them--and would Her Majesty not
send them to the Prince. The Queen peeped into the basket and was so
delighted with the wee warm bunnies that she told the woman to bring
them herself to the Prince, and to the astonishment of the
lady-in-waiting and the unbounded joy of the peasant woman the Queen led
the way back to the Palace and up to the nursery where the Prince duly
received the bunnies and was highly pleased with them.
At another time, in Seville, a litter of rabbits was presented to the
Prince of Asturias. This time the rabbits were bigger and lively.
Someone left the cover off the basket and the rabbits all jumped out and
ran off through the Palace, affording the Prince much amusement, but
creating no end of trouble for the nurses who had to catch them.