May 15, 1945 – Birth of Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza
Born in Bern, Switzerland, Duarte Pio is the eldest of three sons of Duarte Nuno, Duke of Braganza and Francisca of Orléans-Braganza, a Brazilian princess. Duarte Nuno was the head of the Miguelist Braganza family, descendants of Miguel I of Portugal and claimants to the defunct Portuguese throne. Although his family long claimed he was born at the Portuguese Embassy in Switzerland, embassy records do not support this.
Duarte Pio lived in Switzerland until 1952, when the family was permitted to return to Portugal. He later served in the Portuguese Air Force in Angola. The Duke inherited his father’s claim to the Portuguese throne upon the latter’s death in 1976.
In the 1990s, Duarte Pio worked extensively in the independence movement of former colony Timor-Leste (East Timor). This work endeared the Timorese residents to the Duke, who honored him as a citizen of the country in 2012.
Duarte Pio now serves in a semi-official capacity as an economic and cultural representative within Portugal and in promoting relations with former Portuguese colonies. Although not officially a head of state, Duarte Pio has occasionally been received as such by various governments.
Duarte Pio married Isabel Inês de Castro Curvelo de Herédia (a descendant of the Portuguese nobility) in 1995. The wedding was the first of a Portuguese royal within Portugal in over 100 years. Duarte Pio and Isabel are well-acquainted with the current ruling families of Europe and are often seen at weddings and other events. The couple has three children and resides primarily in Lisbon.