💎 Princess Urraca of Bourbon-Two Sicilies: A Life of Royalty and Resilience

Princess Urraca of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, a great niece of the last Neapolitan sovereign, His Majesty Francesco II, has shared her remarkable life story in an exclusive interview. Born on July 14, 1913, at Schloß Nymphenburg in Munich, Princess Urraca Maria Isabella Carolina Aldegonda of Bourbon-Two Sicilies was the youngest child of Prince Ferdinand Pius of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria, and Princess Maria Ludwiga Theresia of Bavaria.

Her Majesty recounts the memories imparted to her by her father and grandfather about King Francesco II, describing him as a man struck by sorrows and trials of life. Princess Urraca also shares her experiences growing up under the watchful eye of the authorities, highlighting the sadness of not being able to know the countries and friends her parents wanted to tell her about. This captivating interview provides an intimate glimpse into the life of a royal family, offering a unique perspective on the challenges faced by the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies during the tumultuous 20th century.

what were some of the most significant challenges Princess Urraca faced during her life

Princess Urraca of Bourbon-Two Sicilies faced several significant challenges during her life. Some of the most notable include:

1. Limited Freedom: As a member of the royal family, Princess Urraca was constantly watched and accompanied by plainclothes police, limiting her freedom and ability to experience life like ordinary people.
2. Loss of Family Members: Her father, the Duke of Calabria, and her grandfather, the Count of Caserta, often spoke about King Francesco II, who was struck by sorrows and trials of life. This could have been due to various betrayals he endured.
3. Separation from Family: Princess Urraca was born in Munich but grew up in Villa Amsee near Lindau, away from her parents and the countries they wanted to tell her about. This separation could have been difficult for her.
4. Marriage and Family Life: Princess Urraca's life was marked by significant events, including her marriage and the loss of her first husband. Her second marriage was also marked by controversy and rebellion.
5. War and Conflict: Princess Urraca lived during a tumultuous period in history, marked by wars and conflicts. Her family was affected by these events, and she may have had to deal with the consequences of these conflicts personally.

These challenges would have significantly impacted Princess Urraca's life and shaped her experiences and perspectives.

how did Princess Urraca's experiences during World War II shape her later life

Princess Urraca of Bourbon-Two Sicilies' experiences during World War II significantly impacted her later life. Born in 1913, she grew up under the watchful eye of authorities, constantly accompanied by plainclothes police, which limited her freedom and ability to experience life like ordinary people. This constant surveillance and restriction could have had a profound effect on her personal and professional life. During the war, women played a crucial role in the workforce, taking on jobs traditionally held by men. However, once the war ended, federal and civilian policies replaced women workers with men, leading to a significant shift in gender roles and expectations. This societal change would have influenced Princess Urraca's perspective on her role in society and her expectations for her own life. The post-war period also saw a dramatic increase in the birth rate, often referred to as the "baby boom." This surge in births was attributed to a desire for stability and security in an uncertain world, with many people turning to family as a source of comfort. Princess Urraca's experiences during this time would have been shaped by these societal changes and the emphasis on family and domesticity. These factors collectively influenced Princess Urraca's life, shaping her perspectives on her role in society, her expectations for her own life, and her experiences during a tumultuous period in history.

what specific events during World War II had the most profound impact on Princess Urraca

Princess Urraca of Bourbon-Two Sicilies' experiences during World War II were marked by significant events that had a profound impact on her life. Some of the most notable include:

1. Constant Surveillance: As a member of the royal family, Princess Urraca was constantly watched and accompanied by plainclothes police, limiting her freedom and ability to experience life like ordinary people.
2. Separation from Family: She grew up in Villa Amsee near Lindau, away from her parents and the countries they wanted to tell her about. This separation could have been difficult for her, especially given the restrictions on her movements.
3. War's End and Liberation: The end of World War II brought freedom to Princess Urraca and her family. This marked a significant turning point in her life, as she was finally able to experience the world without the constant surveillance and restrictions.

These events collectively had a profound impact on Princess Urraca's life, shaping her experiences and perspectives during a tumultuous period in history.

Princess Urraca of Bourbon-Two Sicilies.

In the fall of 1998, Princess Urraca of Bourbon-Two Sicilies gave an interview to Giuseppe Scammacca. This interview was published in the now defunct French-language magazine Bourbons. Below one can read an English translation of the interview of the princess.

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Your Royal Highness is one of the great nieces of the last Neapolitan sovereign, His Majesty Francesco II. What kind of memories did the Duke of Calabria, the father of Your Royal Highness, impart to you of the king?

Naturally, my father, but also my grandfather [the Count of Caserta] often spoke to me of Francesco II, as well as to my three sisters. The idea that we had as children was that the king was a man struck by sorrows and the trials of life. Probably due to various betrayals that he endured... I remember very well my great-aunt, the Queen Sophia. She was a severe woman; I was so afraid of her.

Can you provide us with a description of the Duke of Calabria, your father?

My father followed the family's traditions, notably in reorganising the Constantinian Order of which he was Grand Master for a long time. He also pursued a military career in the Spanish army of his cousin King Alfonso XIII; I believe that I remember that he was a very talented engineering officer. He fought in Spanish Morocco. 

One of my saddest memoirs: the death in his youth of his son (my brother), the Duke of Noto, the presumptive heir. He died from the Spanish flu that ravaged Europe during the First World War.

Called to God in 1960, the Duke of Calabria was by right His Majesty King Ferdinando III. How did he carry out this dignity far from the land that had witnessed his birth?

To tell the truth, my father was not born in Naples but in Rome, at the Palazzo Farnese. However, he only lived there for a year, since he, like his entire family, had to leave the new Italy after September 1870; this exile did not end until 1938, on the occasion of my sister Lucia's marriage to Prince Eugenio of Savoy-Genoa, Duke of Ancona. I remember that my father spent a lot of his time, when he lived in Bavaria, to constitute and reorganise archives relating to the royal family and therefore to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Unfortunately, part of these documents was destroyed during the bombing of Munich during World War II. He donated what was left of the archives to the city of Naples.

What can you tell us about your father's stay in Spain?

I have often been told of the military feats of my grandfather, who had been the Chief of Staff in the Carlist armies who fought for King Carlos VII of Spain, Duke of Madrid. In 1874, when the Duke of Madrid had to take refuge in France, my grandfather rode alongside him when they arrived in Pau. This is where the daughter of the Carlist King, Princess Alicia, was born.

As a Capetian princess, how do you view the House of Bourbon?

Personally, I feel first of all Neapolitan and Sicilian; moreover, when I travel to the old kingdom, I see everywhere the proof of the moral, cultural and spiritual heritage that my family left there. But I was just talking about Pau; that's where Henri VI started out. So I am also French at heart, as I am undoubtedly Spanish and Parmesan. Indeed, the Bourbons reigned everywhere, until America. It's amazing, isn't it?

You yourself have experienced exile. How did you feel when you went through this ordeal?

Sadness; in particular, that of not being able to know the countries and the friends that our parents wanted to tell us about. Of course, my mother, my sisters and I could cross the north of Italy to get from Munich to Cannes... But remember that we were always watched, accompanied on the train by plainclothes police. And, it was not until 1938 that my father was able to return to Italy. However, since the end of World War II, we were finally free. It is all the more strange that my Bavarian cousins have never suffered this kind of annoyance ... and have always lived in their homeland.

You return from time to time to the lands that constituted the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. What are your feelings there?

I am at home there! And I have so many friends there!

Exactly, what is the attitude of the Italians and, more precisely, of the Neapolitans and the Sicilians towards you?

As I just told you, grand and loving are the feelings of the people I meet. All still speak - and I will even say more and more - of my ancestors whom they consider as the image of the continuity of the moral and political values which embodied the history of our kingdom. Moreover, I am invited to the many events organised by cultural groups and movements that want to seriously study the true history of the nineteenth century.

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The Duchess of Calabria with her youngest child Princess Urraca.

Born on 14 July 1913 at Schloß Nymphenburg in Munich, Princess Urraca Maria Isabella Carolina Aldegonda of Bourbon-Two Sicilies was the sixth and youngest child of Prince Ferdinand Pius of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria and his wife Princess Maria Ludwiga Theresia of Bavaria. Urraca chose not to celebrate her birthday, remarking: "How can a Bourbon celebrate on the day of the storming of the Bastille?" The princess had five older siblings: Princess Maria Antonietta (1898–1957); Princess Maria Cristina (1899–1985; married Manuel Sotomayor-Luna, Vice President of Ecuador); Prince Ruggiero, Duke of Noto (1901–1914), Princess Barbara (1902–1927; married Count Franz Xaver zu Stolberg-Wernigerode), and Princess Lucia (1908–2001; married Prince Eugenio of Savoy, Duke of Ancona). The Duke and Duchess of Calabria lived with their children at Villa Amsee just outside Lindau.

 

Princess Urraca of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and Princess Michael of Kent, Venice, 1990. Photograph (c) Marcellino Radogna.

As the daughter of the head of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Urraca regularly represented her family at royal and aristocratic functions and charitable events.

Press report on the 1957 accident.

On the night of 10 January 1957, Urraca was driving her eldest sister Maria Antonietta to her home in Lindau, Germany, when their automobile collided with a truck that had skid on ice near Winterthur, Switzerland. Maria Antonietta was killed in the accident and Urraca was seriously injured. After several months in hospital, Princess Urraca recovered.

The grave of Princess Urraca of Bourbon-Two Sicilies.

On 3 May 1999 at Sigmaringen, Princess Urraca of Bourbon-Two Sicilies died at the age of eighty-five.  Princess Urraca never married although she did have a suitor for her hand at some point. The princess was buried at Rieden in the same cemetery as her parents and two of her siblings: Prince Ruggiero, Duke of Noto, and Princess Maria Antonietta. Urraca's burial site was marked with a simple wooden cross affixed with a small brass plaque bearing her name, until it was replaced by a large cross-shaped headstone with a similar small brass plaque.

what were Princess Urraca's favorite hobbies

Princess Urraca of Bourbon-Two Sicilies faced several significant challenges during her life. Some of the most notable include:

1. Limited Freedom: As a member of the royal family, Princess Urraca was constantly watched and accompanied by plainclothes police, limiting her freedom and ability to experience life like ordinary people.
2. Loss of Family Members: Her father, the Duke of Calabria, and her grandfather, the Count of Caserta, often spoke about King Francesco II, who was struck by sorrows and trials of life. This could have been due to various betrayals he endured.
3. Separation from Family: Princess Urraca was born in Munich but grew up in Villa Amsee near Lindau, away from her parents and the countries they wanted to tell her about. This separation could have been difficult for her.
4. Marriage and Family Life: Princess Urraca's life was marked by significant events, including her marriage and the loss of her first husband. Her second marriage was also marked by controversy and rebellion.
5. War and Conflict: Princess Urraca lived during a tumultuous period in history, marked by wars and conflicts. Her family was affected by these events, and she may have had to deal with the consequences of these conflicts personally.

These challenges would have significantly impacted Princess Urraca's life and shaped her experiences and perspectives.

As we conclude our exploration of Princess Urraca of Bourbon-Two Sicilies' remarkable life story, we are reminded of the significant challenges she faced during her life. From constant surveillance and separation from family to the tumultuous events of World War II, Princess Urraca's experiences were shaped by the complexities of her royal heritage. Her interview provides a unique glimpse into the life of a royal family, offering a perspective on the challenges faced by the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies during the 20th century. Princess Urraca's resilience and determination in the face of adversity are truly inspiring, and her story serves as a testament to the strength and courage of the royal family.

As we reflect on Princess Urraca's life, we are reminded of the importance of understanding and appreciating the complexities of historical events. Her story is a powerful reminder that even in the face of adversity, individuals can find strength and resilience. Princess Urraca's experiences are a testament to the enduring legacy of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, and her interview provides a valuable insight into the life of a royal family. We hope that this article has provided a meaningful and informative experience for our readers, and we encourage you to continue exploring the rich history of the royal family. Princess Urraca's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of understanding and appreciating the complexities of historical events, and we are grateful to have had the opportunity to share it with you.

what were Princess Urraca's thoughts on her great-aunt, Queen Sophia

Princess Urraca of Bourbon-Two Sicilies shared her thoughts on her great-aunt, Queen Sophia, in an interview. She described Queen Sophia as a severe woman, stating that she was afraid of her. This fear was likely due to Queen Sophia's strict demeanor and the authority she held as a member of the royal family.