In Asturian fashion, she was known by many nicknames such as Nenuca, Carmelilla, Carmencita, Cotota and Morita. She was born in Oviedo, Asturias, Spain. In 1950, she married Cristóbal Martínez-Bordiú, 10th Marquis of Villaverde, a well known surgeon. In 1968 he conducted the first heart transplant operation in Spain. The couple had seven children. He died in 1998.