Sintra – August 2023. At the invitation of His Majesty’s Hon Consul General of the Kingdom of Tonga to Portugal, Mr Anthony Bailey, the Head of the Portuguese Royal Family, His Royal Highness Dom Duarte, Duke of Braganza, honoured the World Youth Day pilgrims from Tonga, Niue and the Cook Islands with his presence at a welcome ceremony held at the Hon Consulate General in Sintra.
The Tongan pilgrims provided a flag and honour guard when His Royal Highness arrived at the mission. Following the singing of the Tongan National Anthem, prayers were offered by the Tongan priests and nuns present in honour of Portugal, the Portuguese Royal Family, the success of World Youth Day and for Tongan-Portuguese relations.
The Duke of Braganza, godson of the late Pope Pius XII and head of the Portuguese Royal House since 1976, addressed the pilgrims and warmly welcomed them to Portugal. His Royal Highness greeted and spoke to each pilgrim praising them for their dedication and commitment to their faith as shown by the great distance they had traveled.He also expressed his desire to visit the Kingdom of Tonga in the near future.
His Royal Highness extended through the Consul General his warm greetings to His Majesty King Tupou VI of Tonga and congratulated His Majesty’s Government on its decision to open Tonga’s first diplomatic mission in Portugal and welcomed the appointment of Mr Anthony Bailey to the post of Honorary Consul General.
The Tongan pilgrims performed a series of songs, hymns and dances for the honoured royal guest and watched by many of the Consul General’s guests from Portugal, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Spain, Serbia the USA and Italy.
At the conclusion of the Welcoming Ceremony a virtual meeting took place between His Royal Highness and His Eminence Cardinal Sione Mafi, Cardinal Bishop of Tonga and Niue and Head of the Roman Catholic community in Tonga
Hon Consul General Anthony Bailey says “Everyone present was deeply honoured that The Duke of Braganza, as Head of the Portuguese Royal House, took time out of his busy schedule to come to the Hon Consulate General and greet our pilgrims. This is especially so knowing of the great demands made during World Youth Day on the Portuguese Royal Family who were actively engaged in it”.
For more information:
Royal House of Portugal please visit – www.casarealportuguesa.pt
Tongan Hon Consulate General please visit – www.tonga-gov.pt
