This Royal Family is memorialized due to its major contribution to St. Augustine in commissioning the construction of the Castillo de San Marcos.

Queen Regent Mariana

Queen Mariana, age 22 (1656)
Mariana was born in Austria on December 24, 1634. She was the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III and Maria Anna of Spain. On October 7, 1649, at age 14, she married King Philip IV of Spain. They had 5 children, but only 2 survived infancy. The oldest was Margarita Theresa, who was born on July 12, 1651. The youngest, Carlos II, was born on November 6, 1661. This family were descendants of the Hapsburgs.
King Philip IV died on September 17, 1665, which elevated 3 year old Carlos to be the new King of Spain. With Carlos too young to rule, his mother was appointed Queen Regent and ruled in his name. Due to Carlos' poor health, Mariana remained as Queen Regent until Carlos was well into adulthood. Queen Mariana was eventually sent into exile due to political complications. She died May 16, 1696, at the age of 61.

King Carlos II

King Carlos II, age 12 (1673)
In the 1950's, the City of St. Augustine asked Mrs. Eleanor Barnes, a local genealogist, to research St. Augustine's history. She visited Spain to find ties to St. Augustine. During her research, she discovered a Spanish Royal Family "Royal Trio" that was in reign and decreed the Castillo de San Marcos to be built. The ground breaking for the Castillo was on October 2, 1672. Mrs. Barnes returned with her research and presented it to the City of St. Augustine. The City then declared that the Royal Trio of 1672 would be the "Goodwill Ambassadors of St. Augustine". Mrs. Barnes then began to narrate and author the script of the Trio from 1959 until 1969.

Princess Margarita Theresa

Princess Margarita Theresa, age 19 (1670)
Throughout the years, the Blessing of the Fleet has all the majesty of tradition and the solemnity of a religious ceremony.  Gaily decorated shrimp boats, private yachts and small pleasure crafts participate in the traditional blessing. The custom began centuries ago to protect the fishing vessels and their crew to ensure their safe return to port. As the vessels pass by the municipal pier, they are solemnly blessed by the Bishop or Pastor of the Cathedral of St. Augustine with the recitation of the Ancient Prayer of the Sea, "May the Blessing of Almighty God, The Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost descend upon these ships and upon all who shall be in them and remain forever. Amen." At the conclusion of the passing of the boats, a floral bouquet in the shape of an anchor is placed in the water of the Matanzas Bay to float with the tide out to sea.