Congratulations, Sir: The 70th Birthday of Prince D. Antônio of Orléans and Braganza

A young Prince Antonio of Orléans and Bragança
Photograph (c) Casa Imperial do Brasil

Today, Prince Antônio of Orléans and Bragança celebrates his seventieth birthday! Earlier this year, the prince was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus, from which he has thankfully recovered. Surely, after all that, this birthday will be especially celebrated (both near and far) by his family and friends.

Prince Antônio
Photograph (c) Casa Imperial do Brasil

Prince Antônio João Maria José Rasso Miguel Gabriel Rafael Gonzaga of Orléans and Bragança was born on 24 June 1950 at Rio de Janeiro.

Princess Maria Elisabeth with her ten eldest children.
Photograph (c) Casa Imperial do Brasil

Prince Pedro Henrique and Princess Maria Elisabeth with their twelve surviving children.
Photograph (c) Casa Imperial do Brasil

Prince Pedro Henrique and Princess Maria Elisabeth with their children.
Photograph (c) Casa Imperial do Brasil

Antônio is the the sixth son of Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans and Bragança (1908-1981) and Princess Maria Elisabeth of Bavaria (1914-2011). Antônio has seven older siblings: Prince Luíz (b.1938), Prince Eudes (b.1939), Prince Bertrand (b.1941), Princess Isabel (1944-2017), Prince Pedro (b.1945), Princess Maria (1946-1946), and Prince Fernando (b.1948). Antônio has six younger siblings: Princess Leonor (b.1953), Prince Francisco (b.1955), Prince Alberto (b.1957), and the twins, Princess Maria Teresa and Princess Maria Gabriela (b.1959).

The wedding of Prince Antônio of Orléans and Bragança with Princess Christine de Ligne.
Photograph (c) Casa Imperial do Brasil

On 25 September 1981, Prince Antônio of Orléans and Bragança and Princess Christine de Ligne (b.Beloeil 11 Aug 1955) were joined in a civil ceremony. The couple celebrated their religious wedding the following day (26 September) at Beloeil. Christine is the daughter of Prince Antoine de Ligne (1925-2005) and Princess Alix of Luxembourg (b.1929).

Prince Antônio and Princess Christine with their four young children.
Photograph (c) Casa Imperial do Brasil

Prince Antônio and Princess Christine of Orléans and Bragança have four children: Prince Pedro Luíz (1983-2009), Princess Amélia (b.1984), Prince Rafael (b.1986), and Princess Maria Gabriela (b.1989). The couple's eldest child, Pedro Luíz, died on 1 June 2009 aboard Air France Flight 447.

Prince Antônio and Princess Christine, their three children and son-in-law, and their grandsons.
Photograph (c) Casa Imperial do Brasil

On 16 August 2014, Princess Amélia of Orléans and Bragança married Alexander James Spearman (b.1984) at Rio de Janeiro. From this marriage, Prince Antônio has two grandsons: Joaquim (b.2016) and Nicholas (b.2018).

The Painting Prince.
Photograph (c) Casa Imperial do Brasil

Prince Antônio earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from the University of Barra do Piraí. Furthermore, Antônio is a talented artist. He usually paints watercolour landscapes depicting buildings, ranches, and farms typical of imperial Brazil.