Maria Christina

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 484, 13 October 1928, Page 19

Maria Christina

SEVENTY YEARS HAVE PASSED OVER HEAD OF KING ALFONSO’S MOTHER J , I AN AUSTRIAN ARCHDUCHESS

LUMP and placid after a vigorous life, in which she had been called on to put her hands to the tiller of her country’s destiny, Queen Maria

Christina of Spain has just celebrated ber 70th birthday. She is the mother of the reigning king, Alfonso, XIII., who is a constant visitor to England. An Austrian archduchess, Maria Christina, was born on July 21, ISSB,

the daughter of the late Karl Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria, Alfonso XII., whom she married, lived six years after his weddfng, dying in November, ISBS, and the former Austrian Archduchess became QueenRegent of Spain. She was Spain’s sovereign until 1902 when the young Alfonso, born a King in May ISS6, succeeded to the throne. She is the second of Spain’s queens to have the names Maria Christina. The first (1806-7 S) was the daughter of Francis of Naples. She married Ferdinand VII. and after his death was Queen-Regent for their daughter Isabella. The present King of Spain married Princess Victoria Eugenie, daughter of the late Prince Henry of Battenburg and of the Princess Beatrice of England, formerly held the position of Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight.