There is excitement in the Spanish city of Seville ahead of the marriage of the flamboyant, fabulously rich Duchess of Alba to a civil servant 24 years her junior. Souvenirs of the 85-year-old are selling fast and journalists are huddled at the entrance to the palace where the wedding will take place. The love story of the twice-widowed aristocrat has gripped many Spaniards. She has had to overcome her children's suspicions about the union. According to Guinness World Records, the Duchess - whose full name is Maria del Rosario Cayetana Alfonsa Victoria Eugenia Francisca Fitz-James Stuart y de Silva - has more titles recognised by an existing government than any other noble. She has wealth to match, with estates, palaces and treasures including art masterpieces estimated to be worth up to 3.5bn euros (£3bn; $4.7bn). Wednesday's knot-tying will be a considerably more modest affair than her first wedding in 1947, when 1,000 guests watched the 21-year-old bride, wearing gems even then worth $1.5m, marry Luis Martinez de Irujo y Artazcoz. The New York Times reportedly called it "Spain's most elaborate social event since the end of the monarchy". On Wednesday, just 30-60 people are thought to be attending the lunchtime service in the chapel of the duchess's 15th Century Palacio de las Duenas in Seville. Nonetheless, the Spanish media are exulting in every detail of her wedding to Alfonso Diez Carabantes, from the array of dishes which will greet guests to speculation over the dress she will wear, which remains a secret. The duchess is known for her love of bohemian, brightly-coloured clothing and the dress is unlikely to be subtle, reports said. The duchess has spoken candidly of the travails she faced overcoming her children's objections. "They don't want me to marry, but they change partners more often than I do," the duchess previously said about her children, according to the UK's Daily Telegraph. "The tough part was that my children didn't understand and they got quite angry with me. "It's true that I planned to marry. We were both full of enthusiasm for the idea. I took a step back for my children. I saw that everything was going to be very complicated." To allay their suspicions of her prospective husband, she divided up her wealth between her six children and grandchildren, and Mr Diez has reportedly also relinquished his rights to her fortune. Many Seville residents, however, support the duchess's decision to marry for a third time. "Age has nothing to do with it. As long as there is love, that's the most important thing," Seville resident Concepcion Arrincon told AFP news agency.