Despite his family ties, Enrique was never entitled Infante of Spain due to the unequal marriage of his parents, which did not receive approval from Queen Isabella II.

His parents had married secretly in Rome, as their union was not approved by Queen Isabella II.

Enrique refused to accept the 30,000 pesetas that the Duke of Montepensier offered to pay as compensation.

For his attitude, he was imprisoned and deprived of his rank, but he managed to escape to Marseille and thereafter refused to return to Madrid.

They had three daughters: Enrique died in 1894 aboard the steamer Montevideo on the Red Sea as a result of an illness contracted in the colonies, while returning to Spain.