Lisbon – May 2025. The Honorary Consul-General of the Kingdom of Tonga to Portugal, Anthony Bailey, attended celebratory events marking two notable milestones in the public life of HRH Dom Duarte, Duke of Braganza, and HRH Dona Isabel, Duchess of Braganza, who maintain a recognised position within Portugal’s cultural and historical landscape.
Dom Duarte de Braganza, born on 15 May 1945 and Head of the Portuguese Royal House since 1976, observes his 80th birthday in 2025. The week also marks the 30th anniversary of the marriage of Their Royal Highnesses, celebrated on 13 May 1995 at the Royal Wedding. The wedding was attended by many European Royal Families as well as the President and Prime Minister of Portugal. The Honorary Consul-General also attended the Royal Wedding events in 1995.
Over several decades, Their Royal Highnesses have contributed to the promotion of Portuguese historical, cultural, linguistic and religious heritage, both domestically and internationally. They have also maintained a consistent interest in Pacific affairs and have been supportive of initiatives by the Kingdom of Tonga to strengthen its diplomatic representation in Portugal, including the establishment of the Consulate-General of the Kingdom of Tonga in 2022.
In August 2023, during World Youth Day Lisbon 2023 (1–6 August 2023), HRH The Duke of Braganza presided at a welcome ceremony for 105 pilgrims from the Kingdom of Tonga and the island of Niue. The event took place at the Consulate-General of the Kingdom of Tonga in Sintra and was hosted by the Honorary Consul-General as part of the official WYD programme.
The 2025 commemorations commenced on 13 May 2025 with a Mass at the Basílica da Estrela, presided over by the Patriarch of Lisbon, during which an Apostolic Blessing from HH Pope Leo XIV was read. A formal reception for invited guests followed the service inside the Basilica.
The Honorary Consul-General recalled his presence at the Royal Wedding in 1995 and noted that this occasion marked the beginning of long-standing personal and professional connections with Portugal, reinforced over the years through various cultural and international initiatives involving The Duke and Duchess of Braganza.
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