Maria Francisca, Duchess of Coimbra
| Maria Francisca of Braganza | |
|---|---|
| Pretender | |
| File:Duquesa de Coimbra em 2023.jpg Maria Francisca in 2023 | |
| Born | Maria Francisca Isabel Micaela Gabriela Rafaela 3 March 1997 Lisbon, Portugal |
| Title(s) | Infanta of Portugal and Duchess of Coimbra |
| Royal House | House of Braganza |
| Father | Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza |
| Mother | Isabel de Herédia |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 0 |
| Siblings | Afonso, Prince of Beira (brother) Dinis, Duke of Porto (brother) |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Infanta Maria Francisca of Braganza (born 3 March 1997), is the second daughter of the pretender to the Portuguese throne Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza[a] and Isabel de Herédia. She is a claimant to the titles of Infanta of Portugal and Duchess of Coimbra.[1]
Maria Francisca is a claimant to the succesion of the defunct throne of Portugal, as fourth in line in the Miguelist branch of the House of Braganza, after her brothers Afonso of Braganza and Dinis of Braganza, second and third in line respectively, and her father Duarte Pio, first in line.
Biography
Maria Francisca is the daughter of Duarte Pio and Isabel de Herédia, the couple's second child.
She was baptised in Vila Viçosa by the Archbishop of Évora, Maurílio de Gouveia, on 31 May 1997, and her godparents were Princess Marie of Liechtenstein, her father's maternal cousin, and Henrique Nuno de Bragança, Duke of Coimbra, her father's brother.[2]
She graduated in Social and Cultural Communications from the Catholic University of Portugal.
Marriage
On 7 October 2023, Maria Francisca married Duarte de Sousa Araújo Martins. The proposal took place in East-Timor and the engagement was announced by Duarte Pio de Bragança on 15 December 2022.
The wedding took place in the Basilica of Mafra, presided over by Manuel Clemente, Cardinal-Patriarch of Lisbon, in the presence of Cardinal Américo Aguiar and several Portuguese bishops. The wedding and the reception that followed were broadcast live on TVI. Maria Francisca wore, among other jewellery, Queen Amélia's tiara, inherited by her father Duarte Pio de Bragança, and which had been worn by her mother, Isabel de Herédia, at their wedding. The Basilica and the Palace of Mafra were closed to the public for the previous eight days due to the wedding preparations.[3]
At the end of the wedding, the Apostolic Blessing given to the bride and groom by Pope Francis was read out. Maria Francisca then went to offer the bridal bouquet to Our Lady of Solitude at the main altar of the Basilica, which recently received the pontifical coronation, to the sound of Cante Alentejano.
The wedding was attended by 1,200 guests. Among the guests were Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of Portugal, and various representatives of the Royal Families of Europe and Brazil. Among the reigning Royal Families were members of the Royal Houses of Belgium, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein, who are descendants of King Miguel I. Also present was Prince Friar John Dunlap, 81st Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Among the non-reigning Royal Families were the Royal Houses of Brazil, France, Russia, Austria and Bulgaria.[4][5]
Also in attendance were several representatives from Portuguese politics, such as former Prime Ministers Durão Barroso, Pedro Santana Lopes and Pedro Passos Coelho, Miguel Albuquerque, President of Madeira, Carlos Moedas, Mayor of Lisbon, Paulo Portas, former Deputy Prime Minister, among others.[6]
After the wedding, which took place in the afternoon, a reception was held in the cloisters of the Palace of Mafra. Two wedding cakes were prepared, one for the guests inside the Palace and the other for the public in the King João V courtyard in front of Mafra Palace. In the evening, dinner was held in Sintra, at the bride's parents' farm.[7]
Personal projects
The Infanta Dona Maria Francisca Prize (Prémio Infanta Dona Maria Francisca), whose patron is Maria Francisca, is an annual prize aimed at highlighting works in painting and sculpture by master's degree students.[8]
The result of a partnership between Soares dos Reis National Museum, Associação Real Social Cultura Desporto, School of Fine Arts of University of Porto and Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art, the prize is awarded annually to two winners, one for painting and one for sculpture.
Titles
As well as being a claimant to the title of Infanta of Portugal, she is also a claimant to the title of Duchess of Coimbra. In 2018, the year she turned 21, she was honoured with the title of Duchess of Coimbra by her father, Duarte Pio, a title previously held by her uncle, Henrique Nuno de Bragança, who died in 2017.[9] Maria Francisca received this title at a ceremony held at the Church of Rainha Santa in Coimbra, which was attended by family and friends of the family.[10] This would make Maria Francisca the 5th Duchess of Coimbra, if Portugal was a constitutional monarchy.[11]
Honours
Dame of Order of Saint Isabel
See also
Notes
- ^ Despite the extinction of nobiliary titles in 1910, the title of Duke of Braganza is lifelong and irrevocable, which legitimises its use as a recognised apparent suitor by King Duarte Pio, with the exception of ceremonies or events in a government context.
References
- ^ Luís Amaral (2022). Livro do Guarda-Mor - Elenco de Títulos Nobiliárquicos Portugueses. Guarda-Mor. p. 42.
- ^ Selfie (2023-10-07). "Recorde o batizado da Infanta Maria Francisca de Bragança, filha de D. Duarte Pio".
- ^ Visão (2023-10-06). "23 Factos sobre o Casamento Real da Infanta Maria Francisca de Bragança".
- ^ Selfie (2023-10-06). "Saiba quem são os convidados do casamento real de Maria Francisca, filha de D. Duarte Pio".
- ^ Selfie (2023-10-07). "Casamento real: convidados enchem a Basílica de Mafra".
- ^ Jornal Sol (2023-10-06). "Tudo a postos para o Casamento Real".
- ^ NIT (2023-10-05). "Casamento real vai ter dois bolos. Um deles será partilhado com a população em Mafra".
- ^ Universidade do Porto. "Prémio Infanta Dona Maria Francisca para Pintura e Escultura".
- ^ DEL PINO, ANDREA (17 July 2018). "El misterioso encanto de María Francisca de Braganza, la nueva duquesa de Coimbra". El Mundo. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "Aos 21 anos e cada vez mais bonita, Maria Francisca de Bragança já é duquesa!". FLASH!. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "Titulos de Nobreza".
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