King Felipe and Jaime Alfonsín attend the funeral of César Alierta by surprise

The church of San Francisco de Borja opened its doors this Thursday to celebrate the funeral for Cesar Alierta, who died on January 10, at the age of 78. Numerous well-known faces, belonging to the world of politics and business, have come to the temple to say goodbye to the former president of Tabacalera and Telefónica, including the King Felipe VI.

The monarch went to the center of the capital to pay tribute to the renowned businessman and did so accompanied by Jaime Alfonsin, current head of the Royal House, who will become part of the king's Privy Council when he is relieved by Camilo Villarino. Alierta was a great defender of the monarchy and a personal friend of the Bourbons, whom he personally helped on many occasions. For example, he signed Iñaki Urdangarin as an advisor shortly before the Noos Case scandal broke out to facilitate the family's transfer to Washington.

The father angelfounder of Messengers of Peace; José María Álvarez Palletecurrent president of Telefónica (accompanied by his wife Cuqui Samaniego); or the former mayor of Madrid, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón.

They have also paraded through the church (the same one where Fernando Fernández Tapias' funeral was held) the banker Pedro López-Quesadahusband of Cristina de Borbón Dos-Sicilias, o Albert Riveraformer president of Ciudadanos.

Who we have not seen this Thursday in the church of San Francisco de Borja is Isabel Sartorius, César Alierta's last known love. Widowed by his only wife, Ana Cristina Placer, the businessman recovered the enthusiasm with which he had been Felipe VI's first girlfriend, precisely, and they maintained a discreet relationship that began in 2018 and ended in the fall of 2023. The estrangement was friendly and never They cut off communication. Alierta continued to be a protective friend for Isabel, a cultured woman, with a lot of world and great beauty. Alierta took care of everything she might need.