The 85-year-old Duchess of Alba got what she wanted in the end … a third husband.
After feuding with her children who opposed to the marriage to a 60-year-old civil servant, the wealthy and colourful Spanish duchess finally wed Alfonso Diez on Wednesday in the chapel of her 15th century Palacio de las Duenas in Seville.
Hundreds stood outside the estate as the twice-widowed noble exchanged vows with Diez, a civil servant, before a small gathering of family and Spanish celebrites.
The frizzy-haired duchess, one of Spain’s most flambouyant public figures and a frequent patient for cosmetic surgery, was locked in a battle with her children earlier this year as they squabbled over the what might happen with her vast estate, which is estimated between $850 million and $5 billion.
In the end, she gave her five sons and one daughter much of her wealth – including palaces and art masterpieces from the likes of Rembrandt and Rubens – but will keep it all under her control until her death. Four of her children attended the wedding. One of the absent sons is reportedly unhappy with his slice of the Alba empire.