SEVILLE, Spain, March 18 -- The Infanta Elena, eldest daughter of Spanish King Juan Carlos, married financier Jaime de Marichalar Saenz de Tejada Saturday in a ceremony attended by 1,300 guests in a the Gothic cathedral of the southern city of Seville. Members of the most of the world's royal families were present to see the 31-year-old bride, dressed in a simple, flowing white silk dress with two 15-foot (5 m), tie the knot before the Christian world's biggest altar. Some 100,000 people packed the streets of Seville on a warm, sunny day and gave the bride and groom a feverish reception as they left the cathedral in a carriage drawn by six thoroughbred Spanish horses. Millions more Spaniards watched the event on their television sets -- all major channels aired live broadcasts of the entire two-hour event. Cries of 'guapa' ('beautiful') and 'vivan los novios' ('long live the bride and groom') rang out as the newlyweds were taken through the city's streets. The carriage was accompanied by a troop of white-plumed cavalry, armor glistening in the bright sunlight, as the Infanta was taken to the nearby church to leave her bouquet of flowers on the tomb of her great- grandparents. The Archbishop of Seville, Carlos Amigo, read the couple a goodwill message from Pope John Paul II. 'I wish you long and continued happiness,' the Pope, who will receive the couple in Rome next week, said in the message. The reaction of crowds filling the street was one of euphoria.
'How beautiful she is. How elegant and simple and charming,' housewife Elvira Sanchez, a paper Spanish flag in her hand, cried as the carriage swept past. But not everybody in Spain was thrilled with the event. 'I find all the paraphernalia involved shocking. I can't accept that something secondary like this is turned into a central event in a country like ours,' Julio Anguita, head of the Communist-led United Left party, commented. Elena, who is second in line to the throne after her younger brother Felipe, was the first of the king's three children to marry. This was also the first royal wedding to be celebrated in Spain -- whose monarchs have spent much of this century in exile -- in 89 years. Britain's Prince Charles and Monaco's Prince Rainier were the best- known faces amongst the 100 or so royals there to celebrate the occasion. Spain's own aristocracy, with its women wearing the traditional black 'mantilla' veils hanging down the back of their heads from high combs, was also out in force. Despite the surrounding pomp and the 30 television cameras placed around the cathedral, the Infanta appeared relaxed and happy throughout the service -- and even managed to joke with Marichalar and her father. Marichalar, unaccustomed to the high profile royal life, looked less at ease in a ceremony that was transmitted live to 14 countries and had an estimated viewing audience of as many as 800 million people. The newlyweds met in 1987 in Paris, where Elena was studying painting and Marichalar was working as a banker. They maintained a two-year romance away from the prying eyes of Spain's hugely popular society press before announcing their engagement in November. The Infanta, who works as a schoolteacher, is best known in Spain for her skills as a horsewoman and has ridden for the country's show-jumping team. She recently described herself as 'spontaneous, good-humored and romantic.' Less is known about Paris-based Marichalar, also 31. He is the fourth son of the former Count of Riplada -- family motto: 'Faithful to God, King and Country.' He and the Infanta count horse riding, the ballet, painting and the classical music of Vivaldi among their common interests. Seville, which is famed for the beauty of its Gothic and Moorish architecture, was scrubbed clean and dressed up for the occasion. The cathedral's famous 322-foot (107 m) Giralda bell tower, part of the remains of a Muslim mosque that originally stood on the site, was draped with crimson flags. Balconies already bursting with geraniums and carnations were hung with the gold and red national colors of Spain and the crimson of Seville's own flag. The city's famous blossoming orange and lemon trees added their natural heavy, sweet scent to the occasion. While King Juan Carlos invited his guests to a sumptuous wedding banquet in Seville's Royal Palace Saturday afternoon, the city's residents were having their own party. The Infanta's wedding was being celebrated with glassfuls of sherry and -- in the home of flamenco music -- song and dance.
