HRH D. Duarte Pio, Duke of Bragança & Isabel de Herédia 1995

[Elsa M.]

Once upon a time, there was a prince. His name was Duarte and he was heir to the disestablished throne of the eldest European country: Portugal.

Corbis, February 1995:

 

[Elsa M.]

Although his life was a story full of struggles, in commitment to his people and to the heritage he had received from his ancestors...

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...something was missing in the life of this lonely Prince.


Corbis, February 1995:

 

[Elsa M.]

He missed the love of someone he searched for 50 years; the love he once found in the eyes of a little girl he taught to swim in the warm waters of Angola; the love of a girl he was patiently waiting for…


Corbis, February 1995:

 

[Elsa M.]

That girl was named Isabel, and belonged to one of the most traditional families, descending from Afonso de Herédia, the knight who came to Portugal in the XV century.

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And finally there it happened: the little girl, twenty-one years younger than her family's friend, grew up as a lovely young woman…

Corbis, March 1995:

 

[Elsa M.]

D. Duarte no longer needed to wait for the love of his life…

Corbis, March 1995:

 

[Elsa M.]

Could this wonderful feeling have the freshness of a well-known breeze...


Corbis, March 1995:

 

[Elsa M.]

…could it have the softness of a whisper thrown in the waves…


Corbis, March 1995:

 

[Elsa M.]

…and that finally managed to find its landing-stage…


Corbis, March 1995:

 

[Elsa M.]

At last, they decided to get married on the 13th of May 1995.

The Prince could now introduce the beloved fiancée to his people, who were thrilled with the idea of a royal wedding, 85 years after the Proclamation of Republic.

Official photos from the Portuguese Royal House:

 

[Elsa M.]

The bullfight was the first pre-wedding festivity to take place.

Luis Correa de Sá Soveral, whose ancestors were intimately connected to the monarchy, dressed all the bullfighting arena of Campo Pequeno (a national monument with more than 110 years, built in the neo-arabic style) with the colours of the monarchic flag (blue and white).


Photos scanned from the magazine Olá! Semanário:
1-2. panoramic view of the Campo Pequeno;
3. Marquess of Lavradio and Salvador Correa de Sá (the ones in charge of the decoration of the bullfighting arena).

 

[Elsa M.]

The boxes of Campo Pequeno were destined to the foreign guests, as well as to the more traditional Portuguese families.
The bride and groom were the guests of honour.


Photos scanned from the magazine O quê?, by mtbcm:
1. D. Duarte and D.ª Isabel, arriving at the bullfighting arena of Campo Pequeno;
2. D. Pedro de Orleans e Bragança and Diana de Orleans;
3. D. Henrique de Bragança and Princess Marina of Savoy;
4. Archduchess Maria of Habsburg with the father of the bride, Jorge de Herédia;
5. Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis with her children;
6. D. Duarte and D.ª Isabel arrive at the royal box of Campo Pequeno, accompanied by D. Miguel de Bragança and Victor Emmanuel of Savoy,
7. D. Duarte thanks the applause of the public;
8-9. the royal courtesies;
10. during the bullfight.







Photos scanned from the magazine Olá! Semanário:
1. D. Duarte and D.ª Isabel;
2. D.ª Isabel chats with two Portuguese ladies;
3. D. Miguel with Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis;
4. D. Henrique and Isabel Soares;
5. Prince Hugo of Liechtenstein and Prince Charles de Bourbon Siciles;
6. Laure de Freitas-Branco, Archduchess Alexandra of Habsburg and Prince Charles Henry Lobkowicz;
7. Princess Maria Teresa Polignac de Barros, Princess Maria Teresa D’Orléans e Bragança and Duchess of Cadaval;
8. Federico Cunha, Duchess of Würtenberg, Countess of Paris and Mafalda Espírito Santo da Cunha;
9. Prince Alfred von Liechtenstein, Archduchess Constanza of Habsburg and husband, Prince Franz Joseph von Auersperg-Trautson;
10. Isabel Palmela, Princess Maria Gabriela D’Orléans e Bragança and Salvador Correa de Sá.

 

[Elsa M.]

On the 12th of May, there was a pre-wedding dinner party, at the Palace of Queluz.


Photos scanned from the magazine O quê?, by mtbcm:
1. Princes Alexander and Gabriela Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn;
2. Princes Konstantin and Maria of Bulgaria;
3. Princess of Liechtenstein;
4. Luísa and Sebastião de Herédia;
5. Duchess Diane von Württemberg (wearing the same dress she took to the pre-wedding dinner of Infanta Elena of Spain);
6. Princess Gabriela of Savoy and Robert Balkany (this was the first public appearance of them together, after the divorce);
7. Princess Teresa d'Orleans and D. Pedro d'Orleans e Bragança;
8. Princes Alexander and Catalina of Yugoslavia;
9. Countess Potovska;
10. Infantes D. Henrique and D. Miguel de Bragança.




Photos scanned from the magazine Olá! Semanário:
1. Countess of Paris;
2. Prince Paul Sanguzko and Diana de Cadaval;
3. Archdukes of Habsburg;
4. Anita and Michelle de Bragança;
5. Luísa and Sebastião Herédia;
6. Princes Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn;
7. Antónia Holstein, Mafalda de Freitas-Branco and Countess Minthia Lannoy;
8. The Queen of Bulgary with Princess Kalina and Prince Konstantin, accompanied by Maria Garcia de la Racilla;
9. Archduchess Isabelle of Habshurg;
10. Duchess of Würtemberg and Teresa van Uden Chaves.

 

[Elsa M.]

The evening began with a tea served at the Palace Hotel, followed by an exhibition held by the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art and afterwards a group of Timorese people interpreted diverse typical dances ,with motifs related to marriage and maternity. There was also a concert performed by several student’s musical groups, at the end of which the dinner was served, at the Rooms of Glasses and Music of the Palace.


Photos scanned from the magazine O quê?, by mtbcm:
1. Princes Marina Doria and Victor Emmanuel of Savoy;
2. Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis and her daughter, Maria Teresa;
3. D. Duarte and D.ª Isabel, at the gardens of the Palace of Queluz;
4. during the exhibition performed by the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art (1st row: the Dukes of Soria and Prince Alexander of Yuguslavia; 2nd row: the Countess of Paris, D. Duarte and D.ª Isabel, Granddukes Henri and Maria Teresa of Luxembourg);
5. Prince Laurent of Belgium;
6. Dutchess Mathilde von Württemberg (wearing the same dress she took to the pre-wedding dinner of Infanta Elena of Spain);
7. D. Duarte receives the compliments from the students;
8. the tables, in the room of Glasses of the Palace of Queluz;
9. D. Duarte and D.ª Isabel, during the dinner;
10. Princess Teresa d'Orleans Bragança.




Photos scanned from the magazine Olá! Semanário:
1. D. Miguel and D. Henrique de Bragança,
2. Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis and children;
3. Grand-Duchess Maria of Russia and Princess Marina Savoy;
4. Princess Maria Teresa D’Orléans e Bragança and brother, D. Pedro D’Orléans e Bragança;
5-6. Princess Maria Gabriela Savoy and Robert Balkany;
7. Grand-Dukes of Luxemburg, Maria Teresa and Henri, with Prince Phillipp of Belgium;
8. D. Duarte and D.ª Isabel;
9. D. Duarte and D.ª Isabel, accompanied by Grand-Duchess Maria Teresa and Prince Phillipp;
10. D.ª Isabel.

 

[Elsa M.]

Although it was attended by some Portuguese politicians, the great majority of the guests was formed by family and royals.


Photos scanned from the magazine O quê?, by mtbcm:
1. Archdukes Francesca and Karl von Habsburg;
2. Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Durão Barroso;
3. Grandduke Henri of Luxembourg, Princess Marina of Savoy and D. Pedro de Orleans e Bragança;
4. Prince Victor Emmanuel of Savoy with the Countess of Paris;
5. Sophie von Württemberg;
6. Princess Marina of Russia and Grandduke Henri of Luxembourg;
7. Archduke Joseph von Habsburg.





Photos scanned from the magazine Olá! Semanário:
1. Princes Alexander and Catalina of Yugoslavia;
2. Princess Maria Cristina de Bourbon and Archduke Martin of Habsburg;
3. D. Duarte, at the end of the night.

 

[Elsa M.]

And finally, the big day arrived with a marvellous sun of May.

A few hours before the ceremony, the bride was dressed by Laurinda Farmhouse and combed by the famous hairdresser Alexandre, who came from Paris especially for the occasion.

Dressed in white and exhibiting the beautiful family tiara, the bride could now happily pose together with her parents.

Photos scanned from the magazine O quê?, by mtbcm:
1-2. make-up by Franca;
3. hairdressing by Alexandre;
4. the bride, already combed, stands with her niece;
5. Teresa de Herédia Sousa Mendes (sister of the bride) wait the bride along with her little daughter;
6. D.ª Isabel stands with the designer of the gown, Laurinda Farmhouse;
7. D.ª Isabel with her father, Jorge de Herédia, and the Marquess de Sousa e Holstein;
8-9. hairdresser and make-up artist place the veil.




Photo scanned from Point de Vue, by mtbcm:
1. the bride poses for the photos.




Photos scanned from the magazine Olá! Semanário:

 

[Elsa M.]

In the meanwhile, the guests were arriving at the Basilica of Jerónimos, in Lisbon.

Photos scanned from the magazine O quê?, by mtbcm:
1. façade of the Basilica of Jerónimos;
2. Duchess Diane von Württemberg;
3. Archduke Otto von Habsburg;
4. Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis and her children;
5. D. Pedro d'Orleans e Bragança and Princess Teresa d'Orleans e Bragança;
6. Princess Maria of Bulgaria;
7. Archduchess Francesca von Habsburg and Duchess Philipe von Württemberg;
8. Infanta Maria Adelaide de Bragança accompanied by her son, Francisco van Uden;
9. Francisco van Uden with his wife, Teresa, and son, Francisco;
10. the Dukes of Sória, from Spain.




Photos scanned from the magazine Olá! Semanário:
1. Archdukes Karl and Francesca von Habsburg;
2. Prince Konstantin of Bulgary and his wife, Princess Maria;
3. Marquess of Lavradio;
4. Princess Tatiana Holstein and Archdukes of Habsburg;
5. Princess Helen in Bayern and Prince Leopold D'Arenberg;
6. Dukes of Cadaval and their daughter, Diana;
7. Countess of Avillez;
8. Prince Pierre d'Arenberg with Elizabeth Martorell and Henrique Polignac de Barros;
9. Countess Minthia Lannoy, Mafalda de Freitas-Branco and Prince Charles Bourbon Siciles;
10. Infanta Margarita of Spain and her husband, the Duke of Sória.

 

[Elsa M.]

The wedding was a state occasion, attended by the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and members of the cabinet, the Diplomatic Corps and representatives of thirty-five Royal Houses, as well as leading personalities in the Portuguese life.


Photos scanned from the magazine O quê?, by mtbcm:
1. Queen Joanna and Queen Margarita of Bulgaria with Granddukes Henri and Maria Teresa of Luxembourg;
2. Countess of Paris, Princess Maria Teresa D’Orléans e Bragança, Queen Joanna and Queen Margarita of Bulgaria.




Photo scanned from Point de Vue, by mtbcm:
1. Countess of Paris, Princess Maria Teresa D’Orléans e Bragança, Queen Joanna and Queen Margarita of Bulgaria, Prince Phillipp of Belgium and the Dukes of Sória.




Photos scanned from the magazine Olá! Semanário:
1. the President of the Republic, Mário Soares, and his wife, Maria Barroso;
2. the President of the Parliament, António Barbosa de Melo, and wife; the Prime Minister, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, and wife; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Durão Barroso;
3. the poet Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen;
4-5. Archduke Otto von Habsburg, Grand-Dukes of Luxembourg, Prince Phllippe of Belgium and Infanta Margarita of Spain;
6. the Zulu King and Queen;
7. Princess Maria Gabriela Savoy.

 

[Elsa M.]

The ceremony was conducted by His Beatitude the Patriarch Cardinal of Lisbon, D. António Ribeiro, and assisted by several Archbishops and Bishops.


Photo scanned from the magazine Olá! Semanário:

 

[Elsa M.]

At 3:55 in the afternoon, the groom punctually made his entrance accompanied by his brother, D. Miguel.

Shortly afterwards, the bride arrived in the beautiful basilica of Jerónimos, by escorted by her father, Jorge de Herédia, and followed by a train of young bridesmaids.



Photos scanned from the magazine O quê?, by mtbcm:
1.3. D. Duarte escorted by his brother, D. Miguel de Bragança;
4-7. D.ª Isabel escorted by her father, Jorge de Herédia;




Photo scanned from Point de Vue, by mtbcm:
1. D. Duarte and D.ª Isabel make a reverence to D. António Ribeiro.




Photos scanned from the magazine Olá! Semanário:
1. D. Duarte escorted by his brother, D. Miguel de Bragança;
2. D.ª Isabel escorted by her father, Jorge de Herédia;
3. the bridesmaids: Maria Teresa Martorell Salgado, Ana van Uden and Francisca Curvello;
4. the pageboys: Francisco Chaves, Francisco Sampaio e Mello, António Bustorff and Nuno van Uden.

 

[Elsa M.]

D. Duarte could now see how beautiful his lovely bride seemed in that fairy afternoon…


Photos scanned from the magazine O quê?, by mtbcm:



Photos from SeegerPress and Olá! Semanário:

 

[Elsa M.]

The Monastery of Santa Maria de Belém (or Basilica of Jerónimos) was then testimony to the Portuguese wedding of the century.

Being one of the main ex libris of Lisbon, declared Patrimony of the Humankind by UNESCO, the monastery was constructed in the XVI century and is a notable exemplar of the Portuguese ‘manuelino’ art, the style which anticipated the Baroque, with its characteristic decorative forms held on Gothic structures.



Photos scanned from O quê? and Point de Vue, by mtbcm:


Photos scanned from the magazine Olá! Semanário:

 

[Elsa M.]

And those centenary columns were testimonies to the loving vows taken by the bride and groom, together with the blessings spilt over the royal couple, ready to turn into a family.


Photos scanned from Point de Vue and O quê? magazine, by mtbcm:



Photos scanned from the magazine Olá! Semanário:

 

[Elsa M.]

Even if those same walls did not sign the registers, which will prevail over memory...


Photos scanned from O quê? magazine, by mtbcm:
1-2. D. Duarte and D.ª Isabel sign the book;
3. D. Miguel (testimony from the part of the groom);
5. Princess Maria of Liechtenstein (testimony of the groom);
4. Prince Laurent of Belgium (testimony of the groom);
6. Manuel de Herédia (brother and testimony of the bride);
7. Princess Cristina de Borbón Dos-Sicilias (bride's testimony).





Photos scanned from the magazine Olá! Semanário:
1. the bride's testimonies: Archduchess of Habsburg, Manuel de Herédia and Princess Cristina de Borbon Dos Sicilias;
2. Laurent of Belgium signs the book.

 

[Elsa M.]

...we all know how they secretly smiled on the newlyweds’ way out of the cathedral...


Photos scanned from O quê? magazine, by mtbcm:
2-4. The new Duchess of Bragrança offered her branch to Our Lady of Conception, the patron of Portugal;
5. out of the church; the students put their uniform mantles on the floor, in sign of respect.




Photos scanned from the magazine Olá! Semanário:

 

[Elsa M.]

...when finally converted into husband and wife.



Photos from O quê? magazine, Olá! Semanário and SeegerPress:

 

[Elsa M.]

It was now time to receive the compliments of guests and family...


Photos scanned from the magazine Olá! Semanário:
1. Maria Barroso, wife of the President of the Republic, greets the couple;
2. Princess Teresa D'Orléans e Bragança and Queen Joanna of Bulgary greet the new Duchess of Bragança.

 

[Elsa M.]

...but it was also time to greet the people on the street...


Photos scanned from the O quê? magazine, by mtbcm:



Photos scanned from Point de Vue, by mtbcm:


Photos scanned from the magazine Olá! Semanário:

 

[Elsa M.]

...who stoically waited a whole afternoon, to present the couple with warm manifestations of sympathy and shouts in unison: «Viva o Rei»!


Photos scanned from the magazine Olá! Semanário:

 

[Elsa M.]

And the unmistakable happiness of the couple could then be caught for posterity, by dozens of photographers...


Cover of Point de Vue, scanned by mtbcm:



Photos scanned from the magazine Olá! Semanário:

 

[Elsa M.]

…before it was transferred to the cloisters of the monastery, where the reception took place.

Photos scanned from O quê? magazine, by mtbcm:


Photos scanned from the magazine Olá! Semanário: