ALFONSO OF ORLÉANS AND BOURBON (Prince, 1886-1975, 5th Duke of Galliera, Grandson of Isabel II of Spain and Great-Grandson of Louis Philippe I of France)

Autograph Letter Signed to "Dear 'Doctor' ", Colonel Sir Ronald Waterhouse (1878-1942, Private Secretary to the Duke of York, 1921, then P.P.S. to three Prime Ministers, 1922-1928), sending three snapshots and an enlargement "which may amuse you" [not present], he is sorry "you were not here a little longer as I would have liked to enlarge on our Bucarest conversation ... I fear the prediction I made then of civil war and chaos in Germany is almost a certainty ... Slatin", (Baron Rudolf, prisoner of the Mahdi for 11 years, administrator of Darfur in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan), "is coming back to us here", and inviting Waterhouse to join them "for few days real quiet rest", gold crowned monogram AO, 4 sides 8vo., Brownsea Island, Dorset, 24th August

Prince Alfonso was descended in the male line from Louis Philippe I via the Duke of Montpensier, who married a daughter of Fernando VII and was made an Infante of Spain. Alfonso's mother was the youngest daughter of Isabel II. The Prince himself, who was a General in the Spanish Air Force, married a granddaughter of Queen Victoria - Princess Beatrice (1884-1966, youngest daughter of Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha).
Col. Waterhouse shared the Prince's enthusiasm for flying. After a distinguished military career, he became Private Secretary to the Chief of Air Staff, 1918, and to the Controller-General of Civil Aviation, 1919, rising to Flight-Lieutenant and Staff Officer, 1940. The Prince's son was also an airman, but died in an air accident in 1936 serving in the Spanish Civil War.

Item Date:  1923

Stock No:  53870      £150

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