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Marie-José of Belgium in Cuernavaca, Mexico
Life in Cuernavaca in the 1990s
Marie-José of Belgium, the last Queen of Italy, lived in Cuernavaca, Mexico, during the 1990s. She chose Cuernavaca primarily for its favorable climate, which was more suitable for her health and comfort compared to Europe.
Residence and Activities
Marie-José resided in Villa Lupo, a residence where she brought furniture and personal belongings from Italy, maintaining a connection to her European past. The villa served as a comfortable and familiar environment amidst the warm climate of Cuernavaca.
Family and Daily Life
Her daughter, Beatrice di Savoia, already lived in Cuernavaca with her Argentinian husband and Mexican-born children. Marie-José initially visited her daughter and was captivated by the environment and the weather. This led her to decide to live in Mexico alongside her daughter and grandchildren. The queen’s presence in Cuernavaca was a quiet chapter of her life, where she could spend time with her family away from public duties. Their daily life included simple pleasures and family gatherings, taking full advantage of the pleasant weather. Princess Beatrice di Savoia currently lives in Mexico City with her family.
History and Historical Ties
Marie-José’s move to Mexico also carried historical significance due to her family connections. She was the grand-niece of Carlota of Belgium, the former Empress of Mexico, which added an interesting historical context to her residency in Cuernavaca. During World War II, she pleaded with Hitler not to harm her country, Belgium. She met Mussolini, whom she disliked, and actively helped the Italian resistance. Additionally, she knew Hitler, but that didn’t stop him from killing his sister-in-law, Princess Mafalda, who tragically died in a concentration camp.
Her grandfather was the brother of Empress Carlota of Mexico, both were first cousins of Queen Victoria of England and also first cousins of her husband Prince Albert.
Photographs and Historical Records
Photographs from this period show Marie-José and her family at various locations in Mexico, including a notable image of them at the Pyramids in Xochicalco. These images serve as historical documentation of the Italian royal family’s time in Mexico.
Marie-José of Belgium’s time in Cuernavaca was marked by her adaptation to a new environment that offered her better living conditions due to its favorable weather. This period of her life is remembered through photographs and personal accounts, highlighting her choice to live in Mexico with her daughter and grandchildren.
Slideshow:
A recent update on her daughter, Maria Beatrice, Principessa di Savioa
Further information.
In this interview, the Queen talks about having met Mussolini many times, she met anti-fascists, and she remembers when Mussolini’s statue near the palace was toppled. She remembers when she walked with her children through the mountains to reach Switzerland. They moved to Portugal. At the time of this interview, the Italian Constitution didn’t allow her to visit to Italy.
In the following interview, she says she loved the black hair and black eyes of her husband’s family, and that she fed the pigeons white bread in Venice but she was told not to do it because many people couldn’t eat bread. She talks about living in Torino and Rome. There wasn’t much freedom back then. The queen and the king had different educational approaches, but they both loved history. They talk about the musical skills of the family. She thinks Mussolini did good things at first. They talk about people jumping from skyscrapers during the Great Depression, but she smiles so they are joking. She married the King months later in January 1930.
Queen Maria José reportedly attended music performances in the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City. https://www.theroyalforums.com/threads/king-umberto-ii-1904-1983-and-queen-marie-jos%C3%A9-1906-2001.507/
Casa Savoia was, in fact, dispatching from Villa Lupo. Royal documents had to be sent back and forth from Italy to Cuernavaca.
From Cuernavaca, Marie-José played a role in managing and dispatching documents related to the House of Savoy (Casa Savoia). She worked to ensure the preservation and proper handling of historical documents, a task that connected her Mexican residence, Villa Lupo, with the broader historical legacy of her family.
For more details on her life and activities, you can refer to the SISSCO article (SISSCO) (SISSCO) (SISSCO).
Marie-José de Bélgica en Cuernavaca, México
La reina María José en su juventud
Vida en Cuernavaca en los años 1990
Marie-José de Bélgica, la última Reina de Italia, vivió en Cuernavaca, México, durante los años 1990. Eligió Cuernavaca principalmente por su clima favorable, que era más adecuado para su salud y comodidad en comparación con Europa.
Residencia y Actividades
Marie-José residía en Villa Lupo, una residencia a la que llevó muebles y pertenencias personales desde Italia, manteniendo una conexión con su pasado europeo. La villa le ofrecía un entorno cómodo y familiar en medio del clima cálido y templado de Cuernavaca. La reina incluso asistía a conciertos en el Palacio de Bellas Artes en la Ciudad de México.
Familia y Vida Diaria
Su hija, Beatrice di Savoia, ya vivía en Cuernavaca con su esposo argentino y sus hijos. Marie-José inicialmente visitó a su hija y quedó cautivada por el entorno y el clima. Esto la llevó a decidir vivir en México junto a su hija y nietos. La presencia de la reina en Cuernavaca fue una etapa tranquila de su vida, donde podía pasar tiempo con su familia lejos de las responsabilidades públicas. Su vida diaria incluía placeres simples y reuniones familiares, aprovechando al máximo el clima agradable.
Historia y Vínculos Históricos
La estancia de Marie-José en México también tuvo un significado histórico debido a sus conexiones familiares. Ella era la sobrina nieta de Carlota de Bélgica, la antigua Emperatriz de México, lo que añadió un contexto histórico interesante a su residencia en Cuernavaca. Durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, Marie-José suplicó personalmente a Hitler que no dañara a su país, Bélgica. Conoció a Mussolini, a quien no le agradaba, y ayudó activamente a la resistencia italiana. Además, ella conocía a Hitler, pero esto no sirvió para evitar que éste matara a su cuñada, la Princesa Mafalda, quien trágicamente murió en un campo de concentración.
Fotografías y Registros Históricos
Fotografías de este periodo muestran a Marie-José y su familia en varios lugares de México, incluyendo una imagen notable de ellos en las Pirámides de Xochicalco. Estas imágenes sirven como documentación histórica del tiempo de la familia real italiana en México.
El tiempo de Marie-José de Bélgica en Cuernavaca estuvo marcado por su adaptación a un nuevo entorno que le ofrecía mejores condiciones de vida gracias a su clima favorable. Este periodo de su vida se recuerda a través de fotografías y relatos personales, destacando su decisión de vivir en México con su hija y nietos.
