The Torlonia family was one of the richiest roman families of the nineteenth century, gaining their fortune from the administration of the finances of the Vatican during the 19th Century.
Her first husband was Eduard Slater, her second was Francis Xavier Shields, a United States American professional tennis player. They met in Rome during a championship tennis.
With Francis Xavier Shields she had two children: Francis Alexander Shields, and Marina Shields. Her eldest grand daugther is the actress Brooke Shields.