Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, Maria del Rosario (1926–)
Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, Maria del Rosario (1926–)
Duchess of Alba. Name variations: Duchess of Alba or Duquesa de Alba de Tormes; duchess of Berwick. Born Maria-Rosario Cayetana FitzJames Stuart Silva y Falco, Mar 28, 1926, in Madrid, Spain; descendant of England's King James II, through his illeg. son James Fitz-James, duke of Berwick (1670–1734), and Arabella Churchill; dau. of Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart y Falco (1876–1953), 17th duke of Alba (ambassador to Britain) and María del Rosario de Silva y Fernández de Córdova, duchess of Medinaceli, Denia, Tarifa and Hijar and marchioness of San Vicente del Barco (1900–1934); m. Luis Martinez de Irujo y Artacoz (1919–1972), duke of Sotomayor; m. Jésus Aguirre y Ortiz de Zárate (publisher, noted intellectual and former Jesuit priest), 1978 (died 2001); children: (1st m.) sons, including Carlos Maria (b. 1948).
Became the duchess of Alba on the death of her father (1953); reputedly the richest person in Spain, held 47 titles of nobility and was 18 times a Spanish Grandee.