Pilar González de Gregorio

María del Pilar González de Gregorio y Álvarez de Toledo (born 10 January 1957), also known as Pilar Medina Sidonia, is a Spanish noblewoman, writer and socialite, who had been the former 15th Duchess of Fernandina between 1993 and 2012, until her title was revoked as a result of a legal battle with her nephew.[1] Born in Madrid, she is the daughter of Leoncio González de Gregorio y Martí and his wife Luisa Isabel Álvarez de Toledo, 21st Duchess of Medina Sidonia. Her main seat of residence is at González de Gregorio Palace, in Quintana Redonda, Soria. Pilar is a writer, and is the author of many articles and a novel, titled Nápoles 23. Since 2011, Pilar has served as chairman of Christie's Spain.[2]

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is González de Gregorio and the second or maternal family name is Álvarez de Toledo.
The Most Illustrious

Pilar González de Gregorio
The ex-Duchess at the Hubert Givenchy exhibition opening in the Museo del Prado, 2014
Personal details
Born
María del Pilar González de Gregorio y Álvarez de Toledo

(1957-01-10)10 January 1957
Madrid, Spain
Spouse(s)
    Rafael Márquez
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1977; div. 1981)​
    • Tomás María Terry y Merello
    Children
    • José Márquez y González de Gregorio
    • Tomás Terry y González de Gregorio
    Parents

    Family

    She married, firstly, her second cousin, Rafael Márquez, 9th Count of las Torres de Alcorrín, second son of General José Joaquín Márquez y Álvarez de Toledo, 4th Duke of Santa Cristina, and María del Rosario Osorio y Díez de Rivera, 8th Countess of las Torres de Alcorrín, of the Ducal House of Alburquerque, on 16 September 1977, and divorced in 1981. She has one child from this marriage:

    She married, secondly, Tomás María Terry y Merello, second son of Fernando Carlos Terry y del Cuvillo, a sherry producer from El Puerto de Santa María, of Irish descent, relative of the Cuban magnate Tomás Terry y Adán and of Blessed William Tirry, and had a second son:

    • Don Tomás Terry y González de Gregorio (b. 6 August 1991).

    Ancestry

    Titles, styles and honours

    Titles and styles

    The Dukedom of Fernandina was rehabilitated by King Juan Carlos I of Spain in 1993, by which it was agreed on that Pilar would receive the title. Her elder brother, Leoncio Alonso González de Gregorio, 22nd Duke of Medina Sidonia, and his eldest son, Don Alonso Enrique González de Gregorio y Viñamata, won a legal battle in order to strip her of her ducal title. The rehabilitation of the title was formally revoked in 2012.[3]

    • 10 January 1957 – 16 September 1977: The Most Illustrious Doña Pilar González de Gregorio y Álvarez de Toledo[4]
    • 16 September 1977 – 1981: The Most Excellent The Countess of las Torres de Alcorrín
    • 1981 – 1 February 1993: The Most Illustrious Doña Pilar González de Gregorio y Álvarez de Toledo
    • 1 February 1993 – 15 June 2012: The Most Excellent The Duchess of Fernandina
    • 15 June 2012 – present: The Most Illustrious Doña Pilar González de Gregorio y Álvarez de Toledo

    Honours

    Notes
    1. Duerto, Carmen: La Razón: La codicia pudo con el ducado de Fernandina. 20 February 2015
    2. Pilar announces the sale of decorator Duarte Pinto Coelho's collection
    3. Boletín Oficial del Estado, Viernes 29 de junio de 2012 - website of the Boletín Oficial del Estado
    4. Younger children of Grandees of Spain are styled in this way, while the heir apparent of the title is styled The Most Excellent. Francisco López-Nieto y Mallo, Honores y Protocolo, 2 Volumes, Consultor, 2006. ISBN 84-7052-290-6 and ISBN 978-84-7052-290-1
    5. Pilar was conferred this decoration 26 July 2004. Pilar González de Gregorio, Cavaliere dell'Ordine della Stella della solidarietà italiana at Quirinale.it (in Italian)
    6. Real Maestranza de Caballería de Zaragoza

    References
    Spanish nobility
    Dormant
    Title last held by
    José Joaquín Álvarez de Toledo    		 Duchess of Fernandina
    1 February 1993 – 15 June 2012    		 Forfeited
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