First royal to die from COVID-19
Princess Maria Teresa of Spain has died at the age pf 86 after testing positive for COVID-19.
The princess which belonged to the Bourbon-Parma Royal Family of Spain is the first royal to sadly succumb to their illness.
Her distraught younger brother, Prince Sixtus Henry of Bourbon-Parma was the one to announce she passed away on Sunday.
The siblings are family members of the House of Bourbon-Parma – a cadet branch descending from the French Capetian dynasty off the Spanish royal family.
A cadet branch is created when a young member of a Royal family is granted lands and titles of their own but is not the current heir.
Princess Maria Teresa was born in Paris, France on July 28, 1933, to her parents Prince Xavier and Madeleine de Bourbon. She had six brothers and sisters.
The late princess’ family once ruled as King of Etruria and as Duke of Parma and Piacenza, Guastalla, and Lucca until 1859.
The sad news comes at the same time it was revealed Prince Charles, the future King of England tested positive to a “mild” form of COVID-19 at 71.
Princess Maria did not have children of her own but is survived by a plethora of nieces and nephews, Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Parma, Duke of Parma and Piacenza, Princess Margarita and Prince Jaime.
Spain is currently recording high numbers of coronavirus deaths and the army is now being handed emergency power to transfer dead bodies as undertakers are currently unable to cope.
Spain is now firmly in second place as the worst-hit nation ahead of China with 3,295 in total as the number of deaths from COVID-19 reaches 5,690.