documento

Spain’s Duchess of Alba, who died last week
aged 88, was a larger-than-life character whose
joie de vivre and outspokenness won her a
special place in her fellow citizens’ affections. As
a child living in London, Cayetana played with the
future Queen Elizabeth, but wouldn’t meet her
again until 1988 (top left). Three years ago she
mingled with Charles and Camilla at a dinner in
Madrid (above), but the Duchess was just as
happy socialising with bullfighters, dancers and
the jetset, including Jackie Kennedy (left). Her
vast fortune enabled Cayetana to build on her
family’s magnificent private art collection, but she
always claimed that she wasn’t as wealthy as
people thought, protesting: “I have a lot of
artworks, but I can’t eat them, can I”
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