Ana Margarita of Mejico
Ana Magarita of Mejico (full name: Anne Marguerite Brigitte Marie d'Orléans; born 4 December, 1938) is the current Queen Mother of Mejico since the passing of Emperor Fernando II. She is the mother of the reigning emperor, Agustín VI. She is a widely respected and influential figure in the country and continues to play an influential role in the Mejican court today.
Born in the Palais-Royal in Paris to Henri VI of France, then-reigning King of the French, and his wife Isabelle d'Orléans-Braganza, a Brazilian princess, Ana Margarita was raised in an environment rich in culture and history. She was educated by private tutors and later attended prestigious schools across Europe, including the Sorbonne in Paris and the Pandidakterion in Constantinople, where she developed a keen interest in the arts and architecture from a young age.
During her younger years, France and Mejico developed closer ties due to José Vasconcelos' support for nationalist causes in the European continent, consequently leading to a more frequent and closer mingling of Mejican and non-Spanish European royalty, which had been traditionally close since the independence of the Viceroyalties in the late 18th century. She met Fernando, then Prince Imperial, during a Viennese ball hosted by the Habsburg royal family, and the two began a courtship that culminated in their marriage in 1965. Their union was celebrated with great splendor in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Mejico City, and was seen as a significant achievement in the strengthening of relations between Mejico and France.
She played an important role in the highly nationalistic government of Mejico, which coincided with the later years of Salvador Abascal's regime, and used her architectural preparation to design monumental structures such as the Casona Margarita in rural Province of Mejico and the Jardines de Orléans in Guadalajara, in memory of her French heritage. From 1976 to 1984, the eight years of the absolute rule of her husband, known in Mejico as the Absolutist Octennium, Ana Margarita became a key figure in propagandistic messaging, serving as a mouthpiece for the regime through several initiatives that aimed to provide essential support to communities affected by the turbulent political landscape. Her post-octennium efforts in promoting education, healthcare, and cultural events were well-received, even as the country went through challenging times. Ana Margarita also dedicated herself to aiding war orphans and widows, emphasizing the importance of empathy and solidarity in a time of strife.
As Queen Mother, Ana Margarita has devoted herself to charitable causes, particularly focusing on education, healthcare, and cultural preservation. She has also published memoirs, tractates on architecture, and some of the letters she exchanged with her husband while they were in the courting period. Ana Margarita remains a prominent figure in Mejican society, attending various cultural events, charity functions, and state ceremonies alongside her son, the Emperor, and her family, mainly Juan, Prince Imperial.