Alphonse was King of France (Alphonse III) and Spain (Alphonse XIV, Spanish: Alfonso XIV). He was born on 20 April 1936 in Rome, son of Prins James of Spain and France (later King James II & I of France and Spain) and his first wife Emmanuelle de Dampierre. When his grandfather, King Alphonse XIII of Spain, inherited the throne on 29 September 1936 as King Alphonse II of France, he moved there with children and grandchildren, including Prince Alphonse. When his father, who was deaf and mute, became King of France and Spain, the two monarchies were run by regents. First the King's brother John became regent, and he retired on 20 April 1961, on Prince Alphonse's 25th birthday, when he took over as regent of France and Spain.