Grand Duchess Maria of Russia and D. Duarte, Duke of Bragança, Exchange Dynastic Orders

 

The Head of the Russian Imperial House and Her August Heir Photograph (c) Russian Imperial House

The Duke of Bragança, Grand Duke George of Russia, and Grand Duchess Maria of Russia Photograph (c) Russian Imperial House

Grand Duchess Maria gave the Duke of Bragança the Imperial Order of St. Andrew the First-Called; the grand duchess also awarded the Imperial Order of St. Alexander Nevsky to the eldest child of the duke, D. Afonso, Prince of Beira (who was not present). On his side, the Duke of Bragança gave the Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa to Grand Duke George of Russia. In 2003, when the grand duchess visited Portugal to celebrate the Royal House of Bragança’s 600th anniversary, the Duke of Bragança gave Grand Duchess Maria of Russia the Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Saint Michael of the Wing. 

The Duke of Bragança presents Grand Duke George with the Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa Photograph (c) Russian Imperial House

This dynastic affair was part of a wider event. Grand Duchess Maria of Russia was presiding over a larger ceremony wherein she granted orders to Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians (Head of the Armenian Apostolic Church) and Matthew Festing, Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta from 2008-2017, among others. This investiture ceremony was initiated by the World Russian People’s Council with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill.

 

Sources:

News Release of the Official Visit to Portugal of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, 6-9 November 2003