The Duchess and the commoner - but who is he?

SEVILLE (El País/Jesús Ruiz Mantilla-M.D.) Up until a few years ago, few in Spain had heard of Alfonso Díez Carabantes. But by Wednesday, his name was splashed all over the international media. The commoner, who until last week worked as a public employee, was catapulted to star status when he married one of the richest and most famous women in the Iberian Peninsula. What was meant to be a quiet Seville wedding turned out to be a very public event when the Duchess of Alba (full real name: María del Rosario Cayetana Paloma Alfonsa Victoria Eugenia Fernanda Teresa Francisca de Paula Lourdes Antonia Josefa Fausta Rita Castor Dorotea Santa Esperanza Fitz-James Stuart y de Silva Falcó y Gurtubay), 85, finally tied the knot with her consort of the last three years. It was a blissful day for Díez, 60, and the eccentric duchess.>>>

85 year old Duchess to marry 60 year old civil servant

Bride and groom

MADRID (El Pais) "Considering the latest news stories that have appeared in the media, I am hereby announcing that my marriage to Don Alfonso Díez will be in early October," begins a press release that finally puts an end to all the rumors. At age 85, the Duchess of Alba, Doña María del Rosario Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, 18th Duchess of Alba de Tormes, Grandee of Spain, - who is in the Guinness Book of World Records for holding more titles than any other noble on earth, and whose personal fortune is estimated at anywhere between 600 million and 3.5 billion euros - is about to get married for the third time in her life.A staple of gossip magazines for decades, the duchess had most recently hit the headlines because of her six children's opposition to watching their mother wed a 60-year-old civil servant at this stage in her life. But Cayetana de Alba's decision to hand over her personal fortune to her progeny while still alive has gone a long way towards smoothing things out.>>>

Gibraltar announces Bank Holiday for William and Kate wedding

GIBRALTAR (Press release) Chief Minister Peter Caruana yesterday announced that Friday April 29th 2011 will be a Bank Holiday in Gibraltar to celebrate the marriage of Britain’s heir to the throne, Prince William, to Kate Middleton next year. “Since Prince William will one day be our King, and his bride our Queen, it is right and fitting that we should celebrate the forthcoming marriage,” said Mr Caruana. This will result in a four day break since Monday May 2 is also a Bank Holiday.