Queen Victoria’s granddaughter gets The Crown treatment! Queen Victoria Eugenia and King Alfonso XIII of Spain’s turbulent love story that saw them nearly killed by a bomb on their wedding day will be explored in new series

• Filming has begun in the lavish Magdalena Palace in Santander, Spain
• READ MORE: A Queen in waiting! Princess Leonor of Spain, 17, dons military uniform during a visit to Pilar Cathedral

Following the footsteps of the British royals, the Spanish royal family will now receive their own on-screen adaptation – titled Ena.

Filmed by Spanish broadcaster RTVE, the biographical drama series will re-tell the life of Victoria Eugenia de Battenberg, Queen of Spain, and her tumultuous marriage to Alfonso XIII between 31 May 1906 and 14 April 1931 – with the couple’s wedding day marred by a bomb attack.

It explores the life of Victoria Eugenia, known as Ena by close friends and family, who was born in Balmoral Castle, Scotland, to Henry of Battenberg and Princess Beatrice, the youngest daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Filming has already begun for the six-episode series in the grand Magdalena Palace in Santander, where the monarch resided during her summers, according to verTele.

The glitzy adaptation, comprising female-only directors Anaïs Pareto and Estel Díaz, is based on the historical novel of the same name by Pilar Eyre.

The Spanish royal family are set to receive their own TV adaptation, Ena, following the life of Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain, as played by Kimberley Tell (pictured)  

The life of Victoria Eugenia, set to be played by Spanish actress Kimberley Tell, was a far cry from uncomplicated. The series will portray Victoria’s public and private struggles, including two world wars, a civil war, and the Spanish Great Influenza.

Drama followed the royal couple right from the start of their marriage. On their wedding day, 31 May 1906, a terrorist attack occurred, intending to assassinate the newlyweds.

During the royal procession, a bomb disguised as a bouquet of flowers was thrown from a hotel balcony directly at the royal carriage by Matteu Morrol, who longed to spark a revolution.

Luckily, the royal couple spared injury, but hundreds faced harm on their special day.

Tragedy ensued when the royal couple welcomed their children.

The mother-of-seven discovered that she was a carrier of haemophilia through her grandmother, Queen Victoria, which she passed on to her eldest and youngest sons, according to Royal Collection Trust.

The health problem, which prevents blood from clotting properly, built up tension in the royal marriage and led to the eventual break up of their union, according to Royal Watcher.

Following the rift, the royals faced a series of cheating scandals on behalf of her husband, set to be played by Joan Amargos.

The show will follow the tragic love life of Victoria Eugenia and her husband King Alfonso XIII, played by Joan Amargos (pictured left) 

The royals faced a series of cheating scandals as well as two world wars, a civil war, and the Spanish Great Influenza. Here, the royal pair are picture on 10 June 1906 

Regardless, the British-born Queen threw herself into her role, promoting education and helping the less fortunate, according to Unofficial Royalty. 

Soon after, in 1931, the royal family went into exile following the establishment of the Second Spanish Republic.

From then onwards, the couple travelled to France and Italy before ultimately going their separate ways.

At first, Victoria settled in 34 Porchester Terrace, London, to be close to her mother during the early days of the separation.

But despite the rift, the mother-of-seven travelled to Alfonso’s side on his deathbed in Italy in 1941.

The Spanish royal, who had seven children in total, was born in Balmoral Castle , Scotland, to Henry of Battenberg and Princess Beatrice , the youngest daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

Eventually, Victoria settled in Lausanne, Switzerland, after being forced to flee Italy after Mussolini’s government accused her of spying.

Despite relocating, Ena continued to enjoy a busy social life and spent much of her time with her family.

On 15 April 1985, aged 81, Victoria Eugenia passed away in her home after her health declined.

In discussion about the adaptation, Javier Olivares, the writer of the series, said: ‘Ena is the portrait of historical moments that seem distant but are not so far away, because without them we would not understand the times we live in now.

The adaptation follows several on-screen series of European royals, including The Crown. 

Gerardo Iracheta, an executive producer of the show, seemingly nodded to this influence on Ena.

In conversation with verTele, he said: ‘This series shows that the history of Spain interests the public and, well treated, can be an inexhaustible source of top quality fiction, as the example of other European countries shows us.’

While the premiere date is unknown, it is thought that filming will continue until the end of December 2023.

WHAT IS HAEMOPHILIA? 

Haemophilia is a rare condition that affects the blood’s ability to clot. It’s usually inherited, and most people who have it are male.

Normally, when you cut yourself, substances in the blood known as clotting factors combine with blood cells called platelets to make the blood sticky. This makes the bleeding stop eventually.

People with haemophilia don’t have as many clotting factors as there should be in the blood. This means they bleed for longer than usual.

There are several different types of haemophilia. The following two are the most common:

• Haemophilia A (Classic Haemophilia), caused by a lack or decrease of clotting factor VIII. 
• Haemophilia B (Christmas Disease), caused by a lack or decrease of clotting factor IX. 

There’s no cure for haemophilia, but treatment usually allows a person with the condition to enjoy a good quality of life.

Genetically engineered clotting factor medicines are used to prevent and treat prolonged bleeding. These medicines are given as an injection.

Haemophilia occurs in about one of every 5,000 male births, according to the CDC. Currently, about 20,000 people in the US and 400,000 worldwide are living with the disorder. 

In the UK, figures suggest there are 2,000 sufferers of the condition.

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