Mafra – 7 October 2023. At the invitation of the Head of the Royal House of Portugal, HRH The Duke of Braganza and HRH The Duchess of Braganza, the Honorary Consul General of His Majesty The King of Tonga in Portugal attended the Royal Wedding of Her Highness Infanta Maria-Francisca de Bragança, Duchess of Coimbra to Dr Duarte de Sousa Araújo Martins.
The Catholic nuptial mass took place on 7 October 2023 at the Royal Basilica of Mafra and was presided over by Their Eminences Cardinal Patriarch emeritus of Lisbon D. Manuel Clemente and by Cardinal D. Américo Aguiar supported by other bishops and priests.
Thousands of family and friends attended the celebrations held at the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mafra which was completed in 1755. Many more thousands joined the royal couple in the public square and surrounding streets.
The weekend of festivities was held in the presence of the highest representatives of the Portuguese state headed by His Excellency The President of the Portuguese Republic, Prof Dr Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa together with former prime ministers, ministers, diplomats and city mayors including the Mayor of Lisbon Carlos Moedas.
Representatives of several reigning and non reigning royal and imperial families from Europe and the Middle East attended alongside the entire Portuguese Royal Family. These included from Jordan, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Belgium, Italy, Russia, Georgia, Albania.
HMEH Fra John Dunlap, Prince & Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta also attended.
A reception was held afterwards in courtyard of the Royal Palace and other receptions and dinners took place during the weekend to which the Consul General Anthony Bailey attended.
