The Duke and Duchess of Castro visiting Portugal (3/4/ 5 July, 2014)

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The Royal Family of Bourbon Two Sicilies visited Portugal last week at the invitation of the Royal House of Braganza. H.R.H. Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro and Head of the Royal House, traveled accompanied by his wife, H.R.H. Princess Camilla, Duchess of Castro, and his two daughters, H.R.H Princess Maria Carolina , Duchess of Palermo and H.R.H. Princess Maria Chiara, Duchess of Capri.

La Famiglia Reale di Borbone delle Due Sicilie con S.A.R. il Duca di Bragança presso il Santuario della B.V.M. di Fatima
The Royal Family of Bourbon Two Sicilies with H.R.H. the Duke of Bragança at the Shrine of the Our Lady of Fatima

Several the reasons for this three-day visit to Portugal, including the participation of the Royal Family to the traditional festivities in honor of the Saint Queen Isabel of Coimbra, along with the Royal House of Bragança.

During a reception at the Duke and Duchess of Bragança’s home in São Pedro de Sintra, the Duke of Castro, 59th Grand Master of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George, has invested H.R.H. Dom Afomso de Bragança, Prince of Beira, as Knight Grand Cross of Justice.

Highlights of the visit were, in the morning of July 4th the pilgrimage to the Shrine of Fatima, and in the afternoon the Lithurgy Mass of Saint Isabel celebrated in the Convent of Santa Clara in Coimbra, during which H.R.H. the Duchess of Castro received from the Grand Master H.R.H. the Duchess of Braganza the Insigna and Diploma of Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Saint Isabel.

S.A.R. la Duchessa di Castro riceve l’Onorificenza dell’Ordine di Santa Isabel da S.A.R. la Duchessa di Bragança Gran Maestra
H.R.H. the Duchess of Castro receives the honours of the Order of St. Isabel by H.R.H. the Duchess of Bragança, Grand Master

At Fatima, the Royal Family has offered prayers to Our Lady of Fatima at the small Chapel of the Apparitions, and then visited the Royal Lipsanotheca, an exhibition of relics of the Foundation Oureana / D. Manuel II, presented by Mr. Carlos Evaristo, Expert of relics and Chairman of the chapter of the Patrons of the Vatican Museums, with particular emphasis on the relics of the Seers of Fatima, the Sicilian Saints and the Major Relic of the Blessed Maria Cristina, Queen of Naples, recently beatified by Pope Francis.

4.S.A.R._la_Duchessa_di_Castro_dopo_aver_ricevuto_l'Ordine_di_Santa_Isabel_con_le _figlie_le_LL.AA.RR._Maria_Carolina,_Duchessa_di_Palermo-e_Maria_Chiara_Duchessa_di_Capri_e_le_LL.AA.RR._il_Principe_di_Beira_e_il_Duca_di_Porto
H.R.H. the Duchess of Castro after receiving the Order of Santa Isabel with her daughters T.R.H. Marie Caroline, Duchess of Palermo and Maria Chiara Duchess of Capri and the T.R.H. the Prince of Beira and the Duke of Porto

Together with the Royal Family of Bourbon Two Sicilies in pilgrimage to the Altar of Fatima were H.R.H. Dom Duarte, Duke of Bragança, H.S.H. Prince Peter von Hohenberg, grandson of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, H.S.H. Princess Marie-Therese von Hohenberg, H.E. Mr. Anthony Bailey, Delegate of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George in Great Britain and Irland and Magistral Delegate for Interreligious Relations; the Marquis of Rio Maior, D. João Saldanha Vicente; Dr. Miguel Horte e Costa, Baron of Santa Comba Dão, Delegate of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George in Portugal, Sir Gavyn Arthur, former Lord Mayor of London; Eng.Domingos Patacho of the Royal Association; Dr. José Carlos Ramalho Royal Association of Ribatejo, Dr. Francisco Ramalho, Dr. Alberto Calafato Janelli, Private Secretary to the Duke of Castro and Dr. Carlos Evaristo, who led the visit to the shrine.

3.La_Famiglia_Reale_di_Borbone_delle_Due_Sicilie_con_S.A.R._il_Duca_di Bragança_e_il_Dott._Carlos_Evaristo_con_le_Reliquie_della_Lipsanoteca_di_Ourem_tra_cui_il_Busto_della_Beata_Maria_Cristina_Regina_delle_Due_Sicilie
The Royal Family of Bourbon Two Sicilies with H.R.H. the Duke of Bragança and Dr. Carlos Evaristo with the relics of the Ourem Reliquary including the Bust of Blessed Mary Queen Christina of the Two Sicilies

The day ended with a dinner in honor of the T.R.H. Duke and Duchess of Castro, set in the beautiful surroundings of the Castle Forte da Cruz on the Estoril Coast residence of Dona Diane Barros de Polignac and Dr. Miguel Horte e Costa, Baron of Santa Cumba Dão.

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