His Majesty’s Honorary Consul-General of the Kingdom of Tonga to the Portuguese Republic, Anthony Bailey, attended the official celebrations of Santo António as part of the Festas de Lisboa 2025, following invitations from the Mayor of Lisbon Carlos Moedas.
For the Santo António celebrations, Mr Bailey attended for the first time the renowned and colourful Desfile das Marchas Populares de Lisboa, held along the Avenida da Liberdade. The Marchas Populares, created in the early 1930s, are one of Lisbon’s most emblematic cultural traditions. Each historic neighbourhood prepares for months to present its own parade, featuring bespoke costumes, choreography, original songs and impressive staging. The event honours Santo António, Lisbon’s patron saint, whose feast day on 12 June has long been associated with community gatherings, street festivities, popular culture, and the spirit of Lisbon’s traditional neighbourhoods.
During the Marchas, the Consul-General met H.E. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Portuguese Republic, and introduced him to his son Maximilian, who accompanied him to the festivities.
On 20 May 2025, the Consul-General had also participated in the official presentation of the Festas de Lisboa 2025 programme in the Praça do Município, an event that featured performances by the Orquestra de Câmara da GNR, Gimba, D.A.M.A., Carminho, and a special appearance by João Pedro Pais.
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