Louise Elisabeth machte sich gegen Ende des Jahres 1748 - in Begleitung ihrer Tochter Isabella - auf in das Königreich ihres Vaters. Sie blieb dort bis Oktober 1749. Ihr Gatte war gerade im Begriff Herzog von Parma und Piacenza zu werden, was sich jedoch noch etwas hinzog. "She [Louise Elisabeth] wanted to travel in state, but money was scarce, and she had to put up with the king's carriages, escorted by twelve guards and two corporals ... D'Argenson, who liked not Madame Infante, bitterly remarks that her visit cost France 1,200,000 livres, adding, 'This is a bit of paternal tenderness for which the French people, plunged in the deepest misery, have to pay dearly.' Madame Infante left Bayonne on the 13th December [1748], and arrived on the 29th at Villeroy, where the king met her and took her to Choisy, where all the royal family had assembled. There was great delight, and the dauphin was so overcome with joy that he kissed every one, even the ladies in waiting. Balls, theatricals, and suppers rapidly succeeded each other at the royal residence; but France was exhausted, and 'from the extremities of the provinces, from town and hamlet, from every point of the kingdom came dull rumours; the air was filled with cries, groans, imprecations, and threats; a storm of anger swept through the ranks of the people, and roared round the foot of the throne. The people were suffering; the people were hungry.' At the beginning of 1749 D'Argenson wrote - 'It is said that the Infanta is going to remain for a long time, perhaps for years; the reason given is that the palace at Parma is devoid of everything - no furniture, no staircases. Happy pretext formed by paternal affection for detaining this Infanta, who is much beloved, and for keeping her away from a husband who is not loved. Neither does the king like his son-in-law Don Philip, owing to the small amount of courage he had exhibited during the war in Italy. However, how must his conscience feel at this divorce between husband and wife, which has lasted for seven or eight years, during which time the Infant Don Philip has fallen into abominable vices ... What D'Argenson calls a 'happy pretext' was founded on reality. In fact, when Philip's brother Charles [III.] left Parma in 1734 to reign at Naples, he carried away everything portable - doors, windows, and even the steps of a fine marble staircase, says the Duc de Luynes. The Court of Spain is said to have been much annoyed with the Infanta for remaining so long away from her husband, as heirs male were required for the Italian possessions of the House of Bourbon. She at last rejoined Don Philip, and after a separation which had lasted for eight years they lived together for a while. After her return to Parma the Infanta gave birth to two more children - to Ferdinand Maria Philip Louis [oder Ferdinand I.], who eventually succeeded his father, and to Louisa Maria Theresa [oder Marie Louise], who in 1765 married Charles, Prince of Asturias, afterwards King of Spain." (in: D. Bingham: The Marriages of the Bourbons, Volume II, id., pp. 264-266).