I don't think in Spain a gay spouse of a noble get's a title. If her spouse was called a "Duchess" it was probably in The Duchess of Medina Sidonia's ducal court ONLY. I highly doubt that her title was recognized by the state or the royal court of Spain. It was nice of the Duchess regnant to let her wife take the title of Duchess. Although I highly doubt that it was confirmed by law.
I have written to the
Spanish Ministry of Justice regarding the formalities for a gay marriage and noble titles, but have not yet received an email response. The article "
The Power of the New Duchess " in Teimpo addresses Liliana as the 'Dowager Duchess of Medina Sidona', "No matter who likes it", according to the article, lol. The article states the title is strictly honorary however, but that is true for all widow titles. The 21st Duchess did make her wife, Liliana Marie, as President-for-Life of the House of Medina Sidona Foundation. The
House of Medina Sidona Foundation owns basically all of the assets that the 21st Duchess inherited, and she placed them in a trust to prevent her heirs from selling the estate or dividing the extensive archives. According to the Foundation charter, if the noble family were to find themselves without a legal heir, then the foundation would desolve and the local government would take ownership and guardianship of the assets.
Don Leoncio Alonso de Gregorio, the 22nd Duque de Medina Sidona, is a professor with the University of Castile-La Mancha and the Diplomatic School of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, but is also employed for life in the House of Medina Sidona Foundation. Don Leoncio's wife is Dona María Montserrat Viñamata y Martorell and is the current Duchess 'Consort', but this position does not displace the Dowager Duchess, who for all legal circumstances is the legal widow of the 21st Duchess. Even if, Gods forbid, the current 22 Duke were to expire, then there would be
two dowager duchesses of equal legal standing.