Of NavarranBasqueCarlist aristocracy, Jaime is the third of the five sons and one daughter of Amalio de Marichalar y Bruguera, 8th Count of Ripalda, and his wife María de la Concepción Sáenz de Tejada y Fernández de Boadilla, Lady of the Manor of Tejada. He studied at the Jesuit schools in Burgos, San Estanislao de Kostka in Madrid and Yago School in Dublin, Ireland. His higher education focused on Economics and he specialized in Business Management and Marketing, although he never obtained a degree. In 1986, he gained practical work experience in a number of financial businesses in Paris, where he lived as a bachelor and during the early years of his marriage. After a number of years working in the international financial markets sector, in January 1998 he was appointed Managing Director's Senior Advisor for Crédit Suisse First Boston in Madrid. He is also an advisor of Sociedad General Inmobiliaria. He was President of the Winterthur Foundation, which promotes cultural activities. On 21 November 2008 he left as President of the AXA Foundation, the former Winterthur Foundation. Since 1995, he has been a member of the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla, a noble guild created in 1670. In 2001, he suffered a stroke, and largely retired from public life.
Marriage and children
In 1987, Jaime de Marichalar met his future wife, Infanta Elena of Spain, while she was studying French literature in Paris and he was working there. On 18 March 1995, they married in Seville Cathedral, Seville. The couple has two children: Felipe and Victoria, They were born at Ruber International Hospital in Madrid. The couple lived initially in Paris and then from 1998 in the Salamanca district of Madrid. On 13 November 2007 it was announced that he and his wife had separated. In November 2009, the Spanish media announced that Jaime de Marichalar and Infanta Elena would immediately divorce, although a rumour to that effect had been circulating for a year before the announcement was made. Their divorce papers were signed on 25 November 2009. The couple got divorced in December 2009. On 21 January 2010 the divorce was registered at the Civil Registry of the Spanish Royal Family. It was officially announced on 9 February 2010 that, following his divorce, Jaime de Marichalar would no longer be permitted to use his former wife's ducal title or the styles Grandee of Spain and Excellency, and that he is no longer considered to be an official member of the Spanish Royal Family.
Titles, honours and arms
Titles
Marichalar is since birth, a hereditary lordship dating from the 9th century that has the peculiarity that it is transmissible to the entire offspring of either gender, by his mother, who is descended from Sancho de Tejada.
