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Fabiola of Belgium

Madrid, 11 Jun 1928 – Laeken, 5 Dec 2014

8 facts1 source

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 11 Jun 1928

    Born in Madrid

  2. 1960–1993

    Consort of the Belgians

  3. 5 Dec 2014

    Dies in Laeken, aged 86

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

During her lifetime

She lived through 10 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Madrid.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1920s · Fabiola is born in Madrid

In the news1919–1929

1919 Madrid Metro opens urban transit expansion

The Madrid Metro opened in 1919, eventually transporting nearly 100 million passengers annually by 1929 and transforming urban mobility.

Getting around

Circular railway tickets for long journeys

At the start of the 20th century, travelers could purchase circular tickets from the Norte Company, allowing them to travel up to 3,000 kilometers over 45 days.

At the table

Staple diet of ordinary Spanish families

Ordinary families relied heavily on cereals, potatoes, and legumes, which made up about 60% of their caloric intake. Meat consumption was low due to high prices, and families often saved money by eating simple national dishes like puchero.

The Spanish flu. A flu pandemic infected a third of humanity and killed some 50 million people, more than the war that had just ended.Around the world · 1918–1920

The Spanish flu. A flu pandemic infected a third of humanity and killed some 50 million people, more than the war that had just ended.

Otis Historical Archives, National Museum of Health and Medicine · public domain

What people wore

The Protective Waist Sash

Workers commonly wore a sash or faja around the waist to protect the lumbar area while lifting heavy weights, a practice that remains part of traditional festive attire today.

Music

Religious dancing in Seville cathedral

On feast days at the Seville cathedral, twelve youths dressed in 17th-century silk costumes traditionally danced the sevillana before the high altar.

Daily life

Modernizing Urban Homes and Cooking

In urban homes, the arrival of electricity and gas, along with running water and central heating, transformed daily life, though these modern comforts were primarily enjoyed by the affluent. For many, traditional charcoal stoves remained the standard for cooking until well into the 1920s.