Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
Infanta Maria Francisca de Bragança, Duchess of Coimbra, the only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Braganza, married Duarte de Sousa Araújo Martins at the Basílica Palácio de Mafra inside the Palácio Nacional de Mafra on October 7th, which is the first Portuguese Royal Wedding in over a quarter of a century.
Infanta Maria Francisca arrived in a carriage with her father, Dom Duarte Pio, the Duke of Bragança, at the Palácio de Mafra, who led her down the aisle of the Basílica Palácio de Mafra.
The Wedding of Infanta Maria Francisca de Bragança and Duarte de Sousa Araújo Martins was celebrated in a Roman Catholic Service, which was held in the Basílica Palácio de Mafra:
Like the ancestral royal weddings that heralded the 800 years of the Portuguese monarchy, this great solemnity will gather at that monument erected by Dom John V, more than a thousand and two hundred guests, with prominent personalities from social and political life from the four corners of the world, including members of families foreign reals
Following the Wedding Ceremony, Infanta Maria Francisca de Bragança and Duarte de Sousa Araújo Martins, who can now use the title of Duke Consort of Coimbra, exited the Basílica Palácio de Mafra to cut the cake, and greet members of their families, ahead of the cocktail reception inside the Palace.
Infanta Maria Francisca wore a gown created by Luzia do Nascimento, along with Queen Amélie’s Diamond Tiara, a pair of Diamond Earrings from her mother and grandmother, and a loaned Bracelet from Queen Amélie that belongs to a Family Friend who purchased the piece at Auction.
The Duke and Duchess of Braganza are close to reigning and former royalty from around Europe, and around 1200 Guests attended the Wedding of Infanta Maria Francisca, including the President of Portugal.
Princess Miriam al-Ghazi of Jordan, Dowager Princess of Turnovo with Prince Boris and Prince Beltran
Prince Louis and Prince Sebastien of Luxembourg with the Count and Countess of Paris
Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg
Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia
The Prince and Princess of Prussia
Archduke Georg and Archduchess Eilika of Austria
Crown Prince Leka II of Albania
Dowager Duchess Marie, the Duke of Württemberg, and Duchess Amelie of Württemberg and Baron Franz-Ferdinand von Feilitzsch
The Duke and Duchess of Calabria
Tsesarevich Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia and Princess Victoria Romanovna Romanoff
Prince Ludwig and Princess Sophie of Bavaria
Princess Marie Louise of Bulgaria, Princess of Koháry and Princess Alexandra von Kohary
Prince Gundakar of Liechtenstein and Princess Marie d’Orléans
The Prince of Thurn und Taxis and Princess Gloria von Thurn and Taxis
The Prince and Princess of Ligne
Princess Maria Isabella of Savoy-Genoa
the Duke and Duchess of Angoulême
Prince Joao of Brazil
Prince David Bagration
The President of Portugal
On the evening before the Wedding, the Duke and Duchess of Braganza hosted a Festival at their home, for which Infanta Maria Francisca wore the Noiva do Minho (bride of Viana), a traditional regional bridal attire. There will be a Gala held at their home this evening.