Urpi, Marchioness of Yucay

Urpi, Marchioness of Yucay
Princess Urpi's official photograph; 1748 AN.
Who's Who of Nouvelle Alexandrie
Full Name	Urpi Catalina María Quispe Inti-Carrillo y Waffel-Paine
Titles & Offices	Princess of Nouvelle Alexandrie Marchioness of Yucay Countess of Chucuito Colonel-in-Chief, 1st Cavalry Brigade
Birth Date	22.II.1726 AN (35 AN years)
Birth Place	Parap, Wechua Nation
Parents	Sinchi Roca II, King of Nouvelle Alexandrie Adelaide of Natopia, Queen of Nouvelle Alexandrie
Spouse	Gerard, Marquis of Yucay
Children	Prince Jaime of Yucay Princess Adelaide of Yucay
Family	Sayari, Princess of Rimarima (sister) Nathan, Prince of Lindström (brother) Xanthorr, Count of Anapia (brother) Phaedra, Countess of Amantaní (sister)
Education	Royal Academy of Parap
Alma Mater	Royal Academy of Parap
Occupation	Member of the Royal Family Military Officer
Employer	Federal Forces of Nouvelle Alexandrie
Military Service	Federal Forces of Nouvelle Alexandrie Grand Army of the Federation
Military Rank	Colonel
Organizations	Rural New Alexandrian Development Trust Federal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Wechua Agricultural Preservation Society
Known For	Equestrian achievements Extensive charitable work Military service
Notable Works	Founder, Princess Urpi Trust
Religion	Faith of Inti
Languages	Wechua, Martino, Alexandrian, Istvanistani
Awards & Honors	Knight Companion of the Order of Manco Capac Officer of the Federal Order of Merit (1748 AN) Officer of the Order of Santa Catalina (1750 AN) Dame of the Order of the Golden Clover (1744 AN)
Residence	Yucay, Wechua Nation Parap, Wechua Nation Cárdenas, Federal Capital District
National Origin	Nouvelle Alexandrie
Citizenship(s)	Nouvelle Alexandrie  Natopia  Order of the Holy Lakes

Princess Urpi, Marchioness of Yucay (born 22.II.1726 AN), also Countess of Chucuito, is the third child and second daughter of King Sinchi Roca II and Queen Adelaide of Nouvelle Alexandrie. Known for her dedication to public service, equestrianism, and charity work, she is regarded as one of the most hardworking members of the House of Inti-Carrillo, regularly completing more official engagements than any other member of the royal family. In 1754 AN she married Prince Gerard, with whom she was created Marchioness of Yucay, and the couple keep their country seat at the lodge of Quri Wasi in the Wechua Nation. She holds the rank of Colonel in the Federal Forces of Nouvelle Alexandrie and serves as patron of more than 300 charitable organizations.

Early life and education

Princess Urpi was born at the Palace of Chinchero on 22.II.1726 AN, four years after her sister Princess Sayari and two years after her brother Prince Nathan. Her birth in Parap rather than Cárdenas reflected her parents' commitment to maintaining strong ties with the Wechua Nation, where her father's family had ruled for generations. She was named after Princess Urpi, Countess of Suyukuna Hatun, her great-great-aunt.

Unlike her elder siblings, who spent significant time in Natopia due to their mother's position as Crown Princess, Urpi was raised primarily in Nouvelle Alexandrie. She grew up at the Palace of Carranza and the Palace of Chinchero, with regular visits to royal estates throughout the Wechua Nation. This upbringing instilled in her a strong connection to Wechua cultural traditions and an appreciation for rural life that would inform her later charitable work.

Urpi began riding at age three and quickly developed exceptional equestrian skills. By age eight, she was competing in local shows, demonstrating talent in both dressage and show jumping. Her education followed traditional New Alexandrian royal protocols, with private tutors providing instruction in history, languages, constitutional law, and mathematics. She is fluent in Wechua, Martino, Alexandrian, and Istvanistani.

At age 13, Urpi enrolled at the Royal Academy of Parap, a decision that surprised many observers who expected her to attend the more prestigious institutions in Cárdenas. Her choice reflected a deliberate preference for a less formal environment focused on practical education. She completed her secondary education in 1743 AN with particular distinction in biology and environmental studies.

Equestrian career

Princess Urpi at the 1744 AN Concord Alliance Equestrian Games in Natopia.

Princess Urpi's equestrian achievements distinguish her among New Alexandrian royalty. She began competitive riding at age 11, focusing initially on show jumping before expanding to three-day eventing. Her rigorous training schedule, maintained despite royal duties, earned respect within the equestrian community for its professionalism.

In 1742 AN, at age 16, Urpi competed in the All-Federation Equestrian Championships in Punta Santiago, finishing third in the individual three-day event. This marked the first time a member of the immediate royal family had competed at the national level. Her participation generated significant public interest and led to increased funding for equestrian programs throughout Nouvelle Alexandrie.

Urpi represented Nouvelle Alexandrie at the 1744 AN Concord Alliance Equestrian Games in Natopia, competing under her own name rather than her title. She finished eleventh in the individual eventing competition, the highest placement by a New Alexandrian rider in the event's history. The achievement earned praise from Federal Humanist Party and Federal Consensus Party politicians alike, who cited it as evidence of merit-based achievement transcending social privilege.

The Princess has competed less since the early 1750 ANs, turning from active eventing to breeding and to the patronage of equestrian sport. She maintains a string of horses at the royal stables in Parap and supports breeding programs focused on preserving traditional Wechua horse lines.

Military service

In 1744 AN, Princess Urpi received a commission as Captain in the Federal Forces of Nouvelle Alexandrie, joining the Regimental Corps of Infantry in a ceremonial capacity. Unlike some royal commissions, hers included substantive duties. She completed basic officer training at the Royal Military Academy of Nouvelle Alexandrie in Parap, participating in the same curriculum as other officer candidates.

Urpi advanced to Major in 1748 AN, with the promotion accompanied by expanded responsibilities in military ceremonial functions and veteran affairs. She serves as Colonel-in-Chief of the 1st Cavalry Brigade, based in Cajamarca within the Wechua Nation's III Combined Arms Corps area of responsibility. In this role, she visits military installations regularly, participates in training exercises, and maintains active involvement in programs supporting military families.

Urpi was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1753 AN and to colonel in 1757 AN, her advancement reflecting both substantive service and her growing seniority within the royal house. Her military role extends to policy: she had long served on the Federal Forces Welfare Committee, which addresses housing, education, and healthcare for service members and their families, and in 1757 AN she was appointed its chair. Colleagues describe her contributions as practical and focused on implementation rather than symbolism.

The Princess maintains particularly close ties with cavalry and mounted units throughout the Grand Army of the Federation, reflecting both her personal equestrian expertise and her family's historical connection to mounted warfare in the Wechua Nation. She has advocated for maintaining traditional cavalry skills alongside modern mechanized warfare training.

Royal duties

Princess Urpi undertakes an extensive schedule of official engagements, consistently completing more than 400 per year since 1747 AN. This total regularly exceeds that of other royal family members, including her elder sister Princess Sayari. Her approach to royal duties emphasizes substance over ceremony, with a marked preference for visiting working farms, hospitals, schools, and military installations rather than attending formal receptions. By the later 1750 ANs she had come to deputize for the King at ceremonial functions with growing frequency, a mark of her rising seniority among the working members of the royal house.

Grand Federal Tour of 1746

In 1746 AN, Princess Urpi participated in the Grand Federal Tour of 1746, an extensive journey through all twelve regions of the Federation. At age 20, she took on significant independent responsibilities during the tour, conducting solo visits to agricultural communities and rural schools while other family members focused on urban centers.

Her stops included remote villages in the Wechua Nation highlands, farming communities in Santander, and fishing settlements in the Islas de la Libertad. She demonstrated facility with regional dialects and local customs, earning particular praise in the Wechua Nation for her fluency in traditional greeting ceremonies. Agricultural workers and rural residents responded positively to what they perceived as genuine interest in their concerns.

During a visit to a cooperative farm in Santander, Urpi spent three hours touring facilities, asking detailed questions about irrigation systems, crop rotation practices, and market access challenges. This approach became characteristic of her subsequent royal engagements.

Charitable work

Princess Urpi serves as patron or president of over 300 charitable organizations, the highest number among members of the royal family. Her patronages concentrate on rural development, agricultural education, animal welfare, and organizations serving disabled persons. She takes an active role in these organizations, attending board meetings, reviewing program reports, and participating in fundraising initiatives.

Major patronages include:

• Rural New Alexandrian Development Trust;
• Federal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals;
• National Association for Disabled Riders;
• Wechua Agricultural Preservation Society;
• New Alexandrian Spinal Injuries Foundation;
• Federal Youth Farming Initiative.

The Princess founded the Princess Urpi Trust in 1748 AN, an organization supporting young people in rural areas who wish to pursue careers in agriculture, veterinary science, or environmental conservation. The trust provides scholarships, mentorship programs, and practical training opportunities. By 1758 AN, it had assisted over 9,000 young people across the Federation.

Her charitable work extends to hands-on participation. She has attended emergency responses following natural disasters, visited hospices without media coverage, and spent time with patients at facilities for disabled children. Staff at these organizations describe her as pragmatic and unsentimental, focused on what assistance can be provided rather than expressions of sympathy.

Public image and personality

Princess Urpi has cultivated a reputation for directness and professionalism that distinguishes her from other members of the royal family. She speaks plainly in public statements, avoiding elaborate rhetoric. When asked about her heavy schedule of engagements, she responded: "This is the job. You do it properly or you don't do it at all."

Those who work with her describe Urpi as demanding but fair, with high expectations for herself and others. She maintains strict punctuality and expects thorough preparation from staff and organizations she visits. Palace officials note that she reviews briefing materials in detail and frequently identifies factual errors or inconsistencies before engagements.

The Princess shows limited interest in fashion or social prominence. She wears practical clothing suited to her activities and repeats outfits regularly, a habit that has earned both criticism and praise in the media. When questioned about this practice, she stated: "I'm not a clothes hanger. I'm here to work."

Her communication style can be blunt. During a 1749 AN visit to a hospital experiencing administrative problems, she told assembled officials: "You need fewer meetings and more nurses." The comment generated media attention and prompted Federal Consensus Party politicians to praise her for "speaking truth to bureaucracy."

Despite her public profile, Urpi maintains strict boundaries between official duties and private life. She declines most interview requests and rarely discusses personal matters publicly. This reserve has led some commentators to describe her as difficult or standoffish, while others view it as appropriate professional boundaries.

Controversy with Isabella Valentina

Isabella Valentina on the show, during her famous "Hot Gossip Rundown" segment in which she criticized Princess Urpi.

In 1745 AN, Princess Urpi became involved in a public dispute with Isabella Valentina, a prominent television host and cultural commentator. The conflict began during the "Hot Gossip Rundown" segment of The Isabella Valentina Show, a syndicated talk show produced by the Nouvelle Alexandrie Media Corporation. During the segment, Valentina criticized an outfit worn by the then-19-year-old Princess at a charity gala in Punta Santiago, describing it as "agricultural chic gone wrong" and questioning whether the Princess "owned a full-length mirror".

The criticism escalated when Valentina posted a series of messages on Tweeter making personal remarks about the Princess's appearance and fashion choices. The messages, which included comparisons to farm workers and suggestions that the Princess needed a stylist, generated immediate backlash from the public and entertainment industry figures. Singer and actress Sylvia Marais responded publicly, stating: "There's a difference between fashion commentary and mean-spirited attacks on a young woman doing serious work. Isabella has crossed a line." Other prominent figures, including musicians and athletes, similarly defended the Princess.

Palace officials declined to comment directly on the incident, but sources close to the royal household indicated displeasure with what they characterized as unprofessional conduct. The Royal Press Office subsequently informed media organizations that Valentina would not be granted interview access or credentials for royal events. This effective exclusion from royal coverage impacted The Isabella Valentina Show, as competitor programs continued to receive access for major royal occasions.

The dispute lasted four years, during which Valentina made occasional references to the Princess on her program, though notably more measured than the initial remarks. Media observers noted the absence of Valentina from significant royal events, including the Grand Federal Tour of 1746 and various state functions, while other entertainment journalists maintained their access.

The reconciliation occurred publicly at the Annual Federal Children's Health Gala in Cárdenas on 15.VI.1749 AN. The Princess, serving as patron of the event's organizing charity, was photographed embracing Valentina during the reception. The two women were observed in conversation for approximately 30 minutes, and later appeared together during the gala's live auction segment. Palace officials confirmed that the meeting had been arranged through intermediaries and that both parties agreed it was time to move forward.

Following the reconciliation, Valentina addressed the matter on her program, stating: "I was wrong. I let commentary cross into cruelty, and I'm genuinely sorry for that. The Princess has more important work to do than worry about my opinions on her wardrobe." The Princess, maintaining her characteristic reserve, did not make a public statement about the reconciliation beyond confirming through the Royal Press Office that she appreciated Valentina's apology and looked forward to focusing on charitable work rather than past disagreements.

Valentina's access to royal events was restored gradually following the reconciliation, though she has not returned to covering royal fashion in the manner that characterized her earlier programming. The Princess continues her practice of wearing practical, often repeated outfits to engagements, and has stated that the controversy reinforced her belief that substance matters more than appearance in public service.

Personal life

Princess Urpi maintains private apartments at the Palace of Carranza and a residence at the Palace of Chinchero in Parap, which serves as her primary home when not engaged in official duties. She prefers the Wechua Nation for its proximity to rural areas and riding facilities, and since her marriage has kept the lodge of Quri Wasi at Yucay as the family's country seat.

Interests

Beyond equestrianism, Urpi maintains interests in ornithology, particularly highland bird species native to the Wechua Nation. She has participated in conservation projects and contributed observations to scientific surveys. She also practices mountain climbing and has summited several peaks in the Wechua Nation highlands, typically without publicity.

The Princess raises Border Collies and has bred several successful working dogs. She has demonstrated these dogs at agricultural shows and advocates for working dog programs in rural areas. Associates describe her knowledge of animal husbandry as extensive and note that she maintains detailed records of bloodlines and training methods.

She reads extensively, with reported interests in agricultural science, biography, and military history. Palace staff note that she often reads technical reports and policy papers rather than popular literature.

Marriage and children

Before her marriage, Princess Urpi's private life drew less speculation than that of her siblings, owing to her reserved nature and deliberate privacy. In the mid-1740 ANs she was linked to Captain Marcos Delgado of the 1st Cavalry Brigade, whom she had met during military training in 1745 AN, though neither party ever confirmed the relationship. Asked by a student in 1749 AN whether she would marry, she replied: "If I meet someone who understands that the work comes first, perhaps. Until then, there's plenty to do."

Urpi married Gerard Skuryov-Spooner, an officer of the Spooner family of Highbloom, on 15.IV.1754 AN. In the weeks after the wedding, King Sinchi Roca II created the couple Marchioness and Marquis of Yucay and conferred on them the family lodge of Quri Wasi, long the royal house's summer retreat, as a gift on their marriage; Gerard was admitted to the House of Inti-Carrillo with the style of Royal Highness. The couple made Quri Wasi their country seat, dividing their time between Yucay, the Palace of Chinchero in Parap, and Cárdenas.

The couple have two children, Prince Jaime and Princess Adelaide, the younger of whom was born at Yucay. Urpi has continued her public and military work through her marriage and motherhood, a balance she has attributed to a household ordered around shared duty rather than ceremony.

Family

Princess Urpi has four siblings:

• Princess Sayari (b. 1722 AN), with whom she maintains a close relationship despite their different public styles;
• Prince Nathan (b. 1724 AN), with whom she had limited contact during childhood due to his time in Natopia;
• Prince Xanthorr (b. 1728 AN), her younger brother;
• Princess Phaedra (b. 1730 AN), her younger sister.

She maintains particularly strong relationships with extended family members in the Wechua Nation, regularly visiting aunts, uncles, and cousins who live outside Cárdenas. These relationships reflect her preference for informal family gatherings over formal royal functions.

Titles and styles

• 22.II.1726 AN - 11.V.1754 AN: Her Royal Highness Princess Urpi, Countess of Chucuito
• 12.V.1754 AN - present: Her Royal Highness Princess Urpi, Marchioness of Yucay

Honors and awards

• : Dame Commander of the Order of the Royal and Imperial Blood (1753 AN)
• : Knight Companion of the Royal Order of Manco Capac
• : Officer of the Federal Order of Merit (1748 AN)
• : Officer of the Order of Santa Catalina (1750 AN)
• : Dame of the Order of the Golden Clover (1744 AN)
• : Companion of the Order of the Woven Crown (1754 AN)
• : Dame Commander of the Order of the Woven Crown (1760 AN)

See also

• House of Inti-Carrillo
• Grand Federal Tour of 1746
• Federal Forces of Nouvelle Alexandrie
• Wechua Nation