Afonso, Prince of Beira

D. Afonso de Santa Maria, Prince of Beira, Duke of Barcelos (born 25 March 1996) is the eldest son and heir to Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza, the current pretender to the defunct throne of Portugal, and thus a member of the Portuguese Royal Family. The first child of the Duke and Isabel Castro Curvelo de Herédia, the Prince is first in the Line of succession to the former Portuguese throne, behind his father.

Afonso de Santa Maria Miguel Gabriel Rafael was born in Lisbon, the eldest child of Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza, and Isabel Inês Castro Curvelo de Herédia. As heir to his father, he bears the style Royal Highness, and title of Prince of Portugal. He is not however styled as an Infante of Portugal, as this title is traditionally reserved for the younger royal children, the result of a royal warrant issued in 1455 by Afonso V of Portugal, to celebrate the birth of the future John II.

On 1 June 1996, in the Cathedral of Braga, Afonso was baptised by Eurico Dias Nogueira, Archbishop of Braga, Primate of all the Spains. Since his birth he has been styled (16th) Prince of Beira and (18th) Duke of Barcelos. These are the titles traditionally reserved for the prince second in the line of succession to the throne.

His godparents are Princess Helene of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and his maternal uncle, Afonso Miguel de Herédia.

Portuguese Royal Family

HRH The Duke of Braganza HRH The Duchess of Braganza HRH The Prince of Beira HH The Duke of Porto HH Infanta Maria Francisca HH The Duke of Viseu HH The Duke of Coimbra

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Immediately after his baptism at the Sé Cathedral of Braga, the young prince was consecrated in nearby Guimarães to Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, (Our Lady of the Olive Tree), where his ancestor John I (founder of the House of Aviz), along with his illegitimate son Afonso, Duke of Braganza (founder of the House of Braganza), had been to thank her for his victory at the battle of Aljubarrota, in 1385, against his niece Queen Beatrice of Portugal and her husband John I of Castile.

Prince Afonso's education includes The Oratory School, a Catholic Public School in England.

Titles

Don Afonso de Santa Maria, 16th Prince of Beira, 18th Duke of Barcelos

Styles

• 25 March 1996 – Present: His Royal Highness Don Afonso, The Prince of Beira, Duke of Barcelos

Honours

• Castroan Royal Family of Two Sicilies: Knight Grand Cross of Justice of the Castroan-Two Sicilian Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George

• As the heir-apparent to his father, Prince Afonso holds two titles, but for different charges. As the son and heir-apparent of the Prince Royal of Portugal, Afonso holds the title of Prince of Beira, but not the title of Infante of Portugal, which is held only by princes of the Portuguese royal house who are not heirs-apparent. As the son and heir-apparent to the Duke of Braganza, Prince Afonso holds the title of Duke of Barcelos
• http://www.constantinian.org.uk/investiture-ceremonies-constantinian-order-royal-order-saint-isabel/

Ancestry