On Wednesday, 1 April, Prince Luíz of Brazil issued a message to supporters of the Brazilian monarchist movement. Luíz is the Head of the Imperial House of Brazil. The prince, who is eighty-one, lives in São Paolo.
In his address, Luíz gave an update on the condition of certain members of his family. Adding to previously known information, the prince made it known that four of his brothers and two of his sisters-in-law had been diagnosed with the coronavirus. Previously, news reports had only stated that three of his brothers and one of their spouses were affected.
The Brazilian royals who contracted COVID-19 are as follows:
- Prince Pedro de Alcântara of Orléans-Bragança (b.1945)
- Princess Maria da Fátima of Orléans-Bragança (b.1952; wife of the above)
- Prince Antônio of Brazil (b.1950)
- Prince Francisco of Orléans-Bragança (b.1955)
- Prince Alberto of Orléans-Bragança (b.1957)
- Princess Maritza of Orléans-Bragança (b.1961; wife of the above)
It is believed that the family members affected by the virus were exposed at an engagement party held to celebrate the eventual marriage of Alberto and Maritza’s son Pedro Alberto.
In his statement, Prince Luíz emphasised that he wanted all Brazilian monarchist activities and gatherings to be postponed for the immediate future. He also noted that his family would not be carrying out representative duties until the current situation.
Luíz is the eldest son of Prince Pedro Henrique of Brazil (1909-1981) and Princess Maria Elisabeth of Bavaria (1914-2011). He is the grandson of Prince Luíz of Brazil (1878-1920) and Princess Maria Pia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (1878-1973). Luíz is the great-grandson of Princess Imperial Isabel of Brazil, heiress of Emperor Pedro II, and her husband Prince Gaston d’Orléans.
