Happy Birthday to Duarte Pio, the Duke of Braganza, who celebrates his 80th Birthday today! The Head of the House of Braganza for almost five decades, the Duke is also the Sovereign of the historic Dynastic Orders of the House of Braganza!

But first an explanation of Orders in general- Almost every country, monarchy or not, has some form of an honours system that awards chivalry or merit, and is often used in diplomatic exchange of gifts. Each individual order has it’s own history, and in countries with multiple orders, has it’s own rank. The Head of State is usually the sovereign of the order, and has varied authority on deciding their recipients. National Orders are those which must be awarded with consultation from the government, and are official gifts, while the recipients of Dynastic Orders are at the discretion of the Sovereign, and many non-reigning families still award their Dynastic Orders, with no government authority.

Orders of their own countries are awarded to royals at birth, upon reaching the age of majority, upon marriage into the royal family, or after years of dedicated service to the country. Orders of foreign countries are usually awarded during State Visits, and are given according to rank, with the sovereigns receiving the higher order, the heirs the lower order, and the other members of the royal family participating in the visit receiving yet a lower one. However, these rules vary from country to country, and also depend on individual Sovereigns.

Orders are accompanied by a varied amount of insignia, which can include a Sash with a badge worn at the hip, a Star, ornate Collars, Badges to be worn on the shoulders, and smaller Pins, and the awarding of specific items differentiate the different grades in each individual order, and/or depend on the orders themselves. The wearing of the insignia depends on the occasion. The ornate collars of an Order are only worn very rarely at White Tie events or on Uniforms. The Sash and Star are more common and seen at White Tie State Banquets. The smaller badges may be worn when you are wearing the insignia of other orders, or at a Black Tie occasion where Orders are worn. The small pins are worn at formal occasions in the daytime, when you want to honour the occasion without making it too formal. Now that we have an explanation, lets learn about the Dutch Royal Orders.

Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa

The Royal Military Order of Our Lady of the Conception of Vila Viçosa was created by King John VI of Portugal in Rio de Janeiro in 1818 and awarded in four classes of Grand Cross, Commander, Knight, and Servant with a ribbon of light blue and white and an insignia designed by Jean-Baptiste Debret.

After the abolition of the Monarchy in 1910, the Order continued to be used as a dynastic order by the Head of the House of Braganza, being revived in 1983 to be awarded primarily to Portuguese nobles, Portuguese recipients, which include Cristiano Ronaldo, and foreign Heads of State and Royal Houses, that include King Juan Carlos of Spain, Tsar Simeon II of Bulgaria, Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia, the Duke of Castro, and the Duke of Calabria.

Order of Saint Isabel

Created by King John VI of Portugal in 1801, in honour of Queen Saint Isabel, consort of Portuguese King Denis I, the dynastic Order of Saint Isabel was re-established by the Duke of Braganza in 1986. The order’s sash is pale pink and has a white stripe in the middle, with the accompanying crowned medallion featuring a picture of the Queen Saint giving money to a poor man within a frame with roses.

The annual ceremonial induction of Noble ladies of Saint Isabel takes place in the Convent of Santa Clara in Coimbra, on 4 July, with the Duchess of Braganza as the Dame Grand Mistress. Dames of the Order of Saint Isabel include Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania, Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg and Liechtenstein, the Countess of Paris, the Princess of Ligne, the Princess Imperial of Brazil, the Duchess of Castro, and Princess Miriam al-Ghazi of Jordan, Dowager Princess of Turnovo.

Order of Saint Michael of the Wing

Believed to have been founded by King Afonso I of Portugal in 1147 in the Alcobaça Monastery, in commemoration of the Conquest of Santarém from the Moors, the Royal Equestrian and Military Order of Saint Michael of the Wing was revived first in 1828 or 1848 and more recently in 1981 and 1986, being conferred on individuals of merit through the brotherhood chosen exclusively by the House of Braganza. The Order plays an important role in recognising the achievements of the Portuguese diaspora and the maintenance of Portuguese language, culture, and identity in the former Portuguese colonies, particularly Macau

Queen Amélie’s Diamond Tiara

Diamond Bandeau Tiara

Diamond Choker Tiara

 Floral Necklace Tiara

Moroccan Diamond Suite

Queen Amélie’s Diamond Tiara