The historical tiara of Amelia of Orleans, last queen of Portugal,
Infanta Maria Francisca de Bragança, Duchess of Coimbra, has married lawyer Duarte de Sousa Araújo Martins in 2023 and wore Queen Amalie’s Diamond Tiara. The bridal gown, a spectacular princess dress, was made by Luzia do Nascimento.
As the second daughter of the pretender to the Portuguese throne, Infanta María Francisca was expected to shine with an ornate family tiara on her head.
The infanta has finally walked to the altar with a creation that dates back to 1887 and was made for Amelia de Orleans with 800 diamonds set in silver and gold, fringes,fleur-de-lis motifs and several rows of diamond necklaces. The previous year, Amelia had married the heir to the Portuguese throne, Prince Charles, Duke of Braganza, becoming the new Duchess of Braganza, so the Portuguese Royal Family ordered the house Leitão & Irmão, named Official Jewelers of the Portuguese crown for King Louis I, the making of a luxurious tiara. In fact, it was the King himself who chose his daughter-in-law’s design, which is why she baptized it “le diadème Dom Luis.”
Maria Francisca wore the same solitär diamond earrings that were worn by her mother on her wedding day. They were a gift from the Duchess of Braganza’s mother, Raquel Pinheiro de Castro Curvello.