Rafael of Orléans-Braganza
Pretender to the throne of Brazil, member of Orléans-Braganza dynasty
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rafael of Orléans-Braganza (Portuguese: Rafael de Orléans e Bragança; born 24 April 1986) is a member of the Imperial House of Brazil. He is the heir presumptive to his childless uncle, Prince Bertrand, the current head of the Vassouras branch of the House of Orléans-Braganza and one of the claimants to the defunct Brazilian Throne. Rafael became heir presumptive following the death of his father, Prince Antônio, in November 2024.[2][3] He is a three-times-great-grandson of Brazil’s last emperor, Dom Pedro II, and is among the few living descendants of the former Brazilian imperial family in the direct male line; as second in line to the extinct Imperial Throne, he is the current holder of the title of Prince Imperial of Brazil.[4]
Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| Rafael de Orleans e Bragança | |||||
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| Born | 26 April 1986 Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | ||||
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| House | Orléans-Braganza | ||||
| Father | Antônio de Orleans e Bragança | ||||
| Mother | Princess Christine of Ligne | ||||
Family
Born in Petrópolis, Brazil on 26 April 1986, he is the third child and second son of Prince Antônio de Orleans e Bragança and Princess Christine of Ligne. He has an older brother and sister, Prince Pedro Luiz and Princess Amélia and a younger sister, Princess Maria Gabriela. His name in full is Rafael Antonio Maria José Francisco Miguel Gabriel Gonzaga de Orléans e Bragança e Ligne.[1]
His paternal grandparents were Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Bragança, one of two claimants to be head of the Brazilian Imperial House, and Princess Maria Elisabeth of Bavaria. His maternal grandparents were Antoine, 13th Prince of Ligne, and Princess Alix of Luxembourg. His mother's family, the House of Ligne, is one of the oldest and most prominent Wallonian noble families still extant in Belgium. Christine is a niece of Grand Duke Jean, who reigned in Luxembourg until his abdication in 2000.
Personal life
Rafael has a degree in manufacturing engineering from Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro,[5] working at the InBev subsidiary in London.[6][7] He is fluent in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese,[8] and also has a predilection for football, being an avowed supporter of Fluminense FC.[9][10]
Rafael also has a partnership and a tourism enterprise with headquarters in New York, Paris and Rio de Janeiro.[11]
Rafael has expressed in statements his desire to marry a princess who is part of "Catholic royalty or high nobility".[12]
Appointments
In February 2022, after the floods that devastated the city of Petrópolis, Rafael came to the aid of the victims, bringing them essential goods that the imperial house received from monarchist supporters.[13]
In November 2022, on the occasion of the World Cup, Prince Raphael was invited to attend the game by the embassy of the state of Qatar in London, the capital of the United Kingdom, where the prince currently resides and works. The prince is the guest of honor at the opening game of the Brazilian National Team against the Serbian National Football Team, at the Lusail Stadium, in Qatar.
Honors
| Styles of Prince Rafael of Orléans-Braganza | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | His Imperial and Royal Highness |
| Spoken style | Your Imperial and Royal Highness |
Titles and styles
- 26 April 1986 – 15 July 2022: His Royal Highness Prince Rafael of Orléans-Braganza
- 15 July 2022 – 8 November 2024: His Royal Highness The Prince of Grão-Pará.
- 8 November 2024 – present: His Imperial and Royal Highness The Prince Imperial of Brazil
Honors
As member of the House of Orléans-Braganza, Prince Rafael hold the following positions:
Commander-Major of the Imperial Order of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Commander-Major of the Imperial Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz
Commander-Major of the Imperial Order of Saint James of the Sword
Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of the Cross
Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of Emperor Pedro I
Grand Cross & Grand Dignitary-Major of the Imperial Order of the Rose
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He received the following foreign honors:
Grand Cross of the Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa[14]
Genealogy
Ancestry
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Patrilineal descent
Rafael is a member of the House of Orléans-Braganza, a sub-branch of the House of Bourbon, itself a branch of the House of Capet and of the Robertians.
Rafael's patriline is the line from which he is descended father to son. It follows the Dukes of Orléans, the Kings of France, the Dukes and Counts of Vendôme, the Counts of La Marche, the first Duke of Bourbon, a Count of Clermont, and before them, again the Kings of France. The line can be traced back more than 1,200 years and is one of the oldest in Europe.
