Unlike two of her brothers (both put to death by the Republicans), she survived the Spanish Civil War, during which she met Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Antonio Salazar.

Pilar became president of the Association of Sección Femenina Veterans in November 1977, and held the post until her death.

In addition to her political duties, Pilar carried out a good deal of work compiling numerous different forms of Spanish folklore, specially in the fields of regional music and dances.

Fascist pioneer Ernesto Giménez Caballero conceived the idea of arranging a marriage between her and Adolf Hitler,[1] but this plan never came to fruition.

Primo de Rivera commented in her memoirs that she would have not accepted because of personal reasons but the idea made her feel flattered.