Anthony Bailey, HM Hon Consul-General of the Kingdom of Tonga in Portugal, travelled to Vila Viçosa on the occasion of the Feast of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated annually on 8 December, commemorating the proclamation in 1646 of the Immaculate Conception as Patroness of Portugal by King Dom João IV following the Restoration of Portuguese independence.
On that historic occasion, the King placed the royal crown at the feet of the image of the Virgin Mary in thanksgiving for the restoration of sovereignty, declaring that no Portuguese monarch would ever again wear the crown. The devotion remains central to Portuguese national identity, and 8 December is observed as a public holiday.
Vila Viçosa, the spiritual seat of the Royal House of Braganza, hosted the principal celebrations. The programme included a formal luncheon at the Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa, attended by members of the Portuguese Royal Family. Now administered by the Fundação da Casa de Bragança, the palace offered a powerful reminder of the historical role of the Braganza dynasty.
Mr Bailey joined the solemn procession through the streets of Vila Viçosa, followed by the celebration of Holy Mass, attended by the entire Portuguese Royal Family. During the visit, he met with the Mayor of Vila Viçosa, Inácio Esperança, who spoke of the municipality’s commitment to preserving the town’s heritage.
Mr Bailey noted that he has been a member for over twenty-five years of the Order of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa, the principal dynastic order of the House of Braganza, and highlighted the Order’s ongoing charitable and philanthropic work.