Diana Álvares Pereira de Melo, 11th Duchess of Cadaval
Encyclopedia
Princess Diana of Orléans, Duchess of Anjou, Duchess of Cadaval
, née Diana Mariana Vitória Álvares Pereira de Melo (born Geneva
, 25 July 1978) is a Portuguese noblewoman. She is the eldest daughter of Jaime III Álvares Pereira de Melo, 10th Duke of Cadaval's second marriage with Claudine Marguerite Marianne Tritz (born 1943).
She studied International Communication at the American University of Paris
. She manages the Cadaval family properties: the Ducal Palace
, in Évora
, and the Muge estate.
Dom Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza
recognized Diana as 11th Duchess of Cadaval (on a non-hereditary basis, as all Dukes of Cadaval in the past have been recognized during their lifetime), acting on the authority attributed to him post-monarchy by the Conselho de Nobreza (Council of the Nobility) as Head
of the Royal House of Braganza
. He granted to her eldest half-sister, Rosalinda, the new title of Duchess of Cadaval-Hermès.
, a monument declared a World Heritage Site
by UNESCO
in 1988. Both wife and husband are Capetians
, descending in unbroken male line from King Robert II of France
(972 - 1031), Diana from his younger son Robert I, Duke of Burgundy
through the royal (though illegitimate
) Portuguese branch of the House of Braganza
, and Charles-Philippe through the elder son, King Henry I of France
, via the cadet branch
of the House of Bourbon-Orléans
. The couple are also fifth cousins once-removed through shared descent from King Francis I of the Two Sicilies
. Diana's children by Charles-Philippe will bear the title Prince/Princess d'Orléans and the style of Royal Highness
. Although not expected to inherit their mother's ducal title, the couple's sons will, by tradition, also receive individual noble titles derived from the historical appanage
s of the French royal family
. They are expecting their first child.
Duke of Cadaval
The Dukes of Cadaval have their origins in Álvaro of Braganza, Lord of Tentúgal, Póvoa, Buarcos and Cadaval, 4th male son of Ferdinand I, 2nd Duke of Braganza. Dom Álvaro married Dona Phillipa of Melo, the rich daughter and heir of Rodrigo of Melo, 1st...
, née Diana Mariana Vitória Álvares Pereira de Melo (born Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, 25 July 1978) is a Portuguese noblewoman. She is the eldest daughter of Jaime III Álvares Pereira de Melo, 10th Duke of Cadaval's second marriage with Claudine Marguerite Marianne Tritz (born 1943).
She studied International Communication at the American University of Paris
American University of Paris
The American University of Paris is a private, independent, and accredited liberal arts and sciences university in Paris, France. Founded in 1962, the university is one of the oldest American institutions of higher education in Europe...
. She manages the Cadaval family properties: the Ducal Palace
Palace of the Dukes of Cadaval (Évora)
The Palace of the Dukes of Cadaval is located in Évora historic centre, in Portugal, next-door to the Lóios Convent and Church and facing the Roman Temple of the Goddess Diana....
, in Évora
Évora
Évora is a municipality in Portugal. It has total area of with a population of 55,619 inhabitants. It is the seat of the Évora District and capital of the Alentejo region. The municipality is composed of 19 civil parishes, and is located in Évora District....
, and the Muge estate.
Succession
Dona Diana's father was married twice, but only the second marriage was a religious ceremony. When the duke died in 2001, the eldest daughters of both marriages disputed the family heritage:- Rosalinda Álvares Pereira de Melo (born 1936), eldest daughter of the duke's first (civil) marriage;
- Diana Álvares Pereira de Melo (born 1978), eldest daughter of the duke's second (religious) marriage.
Dom Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza
Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza
Dom Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza , is the 24th Duke of Braganza and a pretender to the throne of Portugal.-Birth and education:...
recognized Diana as 11th Duchess of Cadaval (on a non-hereditary basis, as all Dukes of Cadaval in the past have been recognized during their lifetime), acting on the authority attributed to him post-monarchy by the Conselho de Nobreza (Council of the Nobility) as Head
Pretender
A pretender is one who claims entitlement to an unavailable position of honour or rank. Most often it refers to a former monarch, or descendant thereof, whose throne is occupied or claimed by a rival, or has been abolished....
of the Royal House of Braganza
House of Braganza
The Most Serene House of Braganza , an important Portuguese noble family, ruled the Kingdom of Portugal and its colonial Empire, from 1640 to 1910...
. He granted to her eldest half-sister, Rosalinda, the new title of Duchess of Cadaval-Hermès.
Marriage
On 21 June 2008, Dona Diana married Prince Charles-Philippe, Duke of Anjou (born 1973). The ceremony took place in the Cathedral of ÉvoraCathedral of Évora
The Cathedral of Évora is one of the oldest and most important monuments in the city of Évora, in Portugal, lying on the highest spot of the city...
, a monument declared a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
in 1988. Both wife and husband are Capetians
Capetian dynasty
The Capetian dynasty , also known as the House of France, is the largest and oldest European royal house, consisting of the descendants of King Hugh Capet of France in the male line. Hugh Capet himself was a cognatic descendant of the Carolingians and the Merovingians, earlier rulers of France...
, descending in unbroken male line from King Robert II of France
Robert II of France
Robert II , called the Pious or the Wise , was King of France from 996 until his death. The second reigning member of the House of Capet, he was born in Orléans to Hugh Capet and Adelaide of Aquitaine....
(972 - 1031), Diana from his younger son Robert I, Duke of Burgundy
Robert I, Duke of Burgundy
Robert I Capet or Robert I of Burgundy, known as Robert the Old was duke of Burgundy between 1032 to his death...
through the royal (though illegitimate
Legitimacy (law)
At common law, legitimacy is the status of a child who is born to parents who are legally married to one another; and of a child who is born shortly after the parents' divorce. In canon and in civil law, the offspring of putative marriages have been considered legitimate children...
) Portuguese branch of the House of Braganza
House of Braganza
The Most Serene House of Braganza , an important Portuguese noble family, ruled the Kingdom of Portugal and its colonial Empire, from 1640 to 1910...
, and Charles-Philippe through the elder son, King Henry I of France
Henry I of France
Henry I was King of France from 1031 to his death. The royal demesne of France reached its smallest size during his reign, and for this reason he is often seen as emblematic of the weakness of the early Capetians...
, via the cadet branch
Cadet branch
Cadet branch is a term in genealogy to describe the lineage of the descendants of the younger sons of a monarch or patriarch. In the ruling dynasties and noble families of much of Europe and Asia, the family's major assets – titles, realms, fiefs, property and income – have...
of the House of Bourbon-Orléans
House of Orleans
Orléans is the name used by several branches of the Royal House of France, all descended in the legitimate male line from the dynasty's founder, Hugh Capet. It became a tradition during France's ancien régime for the duchy of Orléans to be granted as an appanage to a younger son of the king...
. The couple are also fifth cousins once-removed through shared descent from King Francis I of the Two Sicilies
Francis I of the Two Sicilies
-Biography:Francis was born in Naples, the son of Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies and his wife Archduchess Maria Carolina of Austria. He was also the nephew of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI the last King and Queen of France before the first French Republic....
. Diana's children by Charles-Philippe will bear the title Prince/Princess d'Orléans and the style of Royal Highness
Royal Highness
Royal Highness is a style ; plural Royal Highnesses...
. Although not expected to inherit their mother's ducal title, the couple's sons will, by tradition, also receive individual noble titles derived from the historical appanage
Appanage
An apanage or appanage or is the grant of an estate, titles, offices, or other things of value to the younger male children of a sovereign, who would otherwise have no inheritance under the system of primogeniture...
s of the French royal family
Royal family
A royal family is the extended family of a king or queen regnant. The term imperial family appropriately describes the extended family of an emperor or empress, while the terms "ducal family", "grand ducal family" or "princely family" are more appropriate to describe the relatives of a reigning...
. They are expecting their first child.
Titles and styles
- 25 July 1978 – 30 July 2001 Dona Diana Álvares Pereira de Mello
- 30 July 2001 – 21 June 2008 Dona Diana Álvares Pereira de Mello, 11th Duchess of Cadaval
- 21 June 2008 – present: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Anjou, 11th Duchess of Cadaval