May 5, 2024 – With the deepest sorrow, we announce the passing of Most Serene Dona Augusta, Duchess and Marchioness of Loulé, Mother of Most Serene Dom Filipe (Count of Rio Grande), whom God has called to His Holy Glory. She departed comforted by the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church and the Apostolic Blessing of Their Holinesses Pope Pius XII and Pope Benedict XVI. P.N. + A.M.
April 19, 2024 – Most Serene Dom Filipe, as part of the commemorations marking the 375th anniversary of the Second Battle of Guararapes (1649) and the expulsion of the Dutch from northeastern Brazil (1654), hosted a conference and exhibition at the Naval Military Club. The event was centered on the actions of General Francisco Barreto de Menezes, Count of Rio Grande and Restorer of Pernambuco. Distinguished officers from the Portuguese Navy and Army attended, including Colonel Tir. Inf. Raúl Folques.
March 7, 2024 – Most Serene Dom Filipe attended the presentation of his book, The Sovereign and Military Order of Malta and Its Humanitarian Action (History and Present-Day), held at the Naval Academy. The session was presided over by Admiral Vidal de Abreu, President of the Naval Academy, with the book being presented by the esteemed Admiral António da Silva Ribeiro.
February 29, 2024 – Most Serene Dom Filipe presided over the Commemorative Session marking the Bicentenary of the Death of the 1st Marquis of Loulé, organized by the Dom João VI Institute at the Literary Guild. On this occasion, Dom Filipe delivered a conference entitled The 1st Marquis of Loulé – A Military Servant of Portugal and the King, while Dr. Jorge de Matos presented a conference on the circumstances surrounding the assassination of the Marquis of Loulé. This session was attended by various military and civilian authorities of Portugal.
November 10 and 11, 2023 – Most Serene Lord Dom Filipe presented his book, The Sovereign and Military Order of Malta and Its Humanitarian Action (History and Present-Day), in northern Portugal. The book is based on his final work for the Postgraduate Program in Armed Conflicts and Human Rights, offered by the Faculty of Law at the University of Coimbra (UC) and the Military University Institute (IUM). The event was held at the Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Matosinhos (on November 10) in partnership with the Dom João VI Institute, and at the Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Guimarães (on November 11) in collaboration with the Veterans’ Association of the Lancers of Portugal.
October 25, 2023 – On October 25, Most Serene Dom Filipe launched his book, The Sovereign and Military Order of Malta and Its Humanitarian Action (History and Present-Day), at the Literary Guild. The book is based on his final work for the Postgraduate Program in Armed Conflicts and Human Rights, offered by the Faculty of Law at the University of Coimbra (UC) and the Military University Institute (IUM). On this occasion, Lieutenant Colonel João Alvelos, President of the Humanitarian Association of the Cross of Malta, was also present at the panel and addressed the audience.
April 19, 2023 – Most Serene Dom Filipe served as a scientific collaborator in the Evocative Exhibition commemorating the 375th anniversary of the First Battle of Guararapes (1648–2023), organized by the Directorate-General for Military History and Culture in partnership with the Brazilian Army. On this occasion, Major General Flambó expressed his gratitude for the honorable presence of Most Serene Dom Filipe, notably in his role as a representative of General Francisco Barreto de Menezes (1616–1688), Restorer of Pernambuco.
November 29 to December 3, 2022 – Most Serene Dom Filipe was in Guinea-Bissau, as part of the Military Solidarity Mission carried out in that country by the Portugueses Armed Forces General Staff (EMGFA). On this occasion, accompanied by Rear-Admiral Ramos Borges, he paid tribute to the memory of the Portuguese military fallen in combat who are buried in the cemetery of Bissau.
November, 10 to 14, 2022 – Most Serene Dom Filipe was in Sao Tome and Principe, as part of the Military Solidarity Mission carried out in that country by the Portugueses Armed Forces General Staff (EMGFA). In this context, as a member of the entourage of Rear-Admiral Ramos Borges (representing Admiral CEMGFA), he was received by the Portuguese Ambassador in Sao Tome and Principe, visiting the patrol vessel ZAIRE on a bilateral cooperation mission in that country.
October 24, 2022 – On Portuguese Army Day (commemorating the capture of Lisbon from the Moors by King Dom Afonso Henriques), Most Serene Dom Filipe was decorated by Admiral António Silva Ribeiro (Chief of the Portuguese General Staff of the Armed Forces), with the Military Medal of the Cross of St. George (1st Class).
April 1, 2022 – Most Serene Dom Filipe, concluded the Post-Graduation Course on Armed Conflicts and Human Rights taught by the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra (U.C.) and by the Military University Institute (IUM). The end-of-course work presentation session was held at the IUM, under the chairmanship of Lieutenant-General António Martins Pereira. Dom Filipe presented his work under the theme: The Sovereign Military Order of Malta and its Humanitarian Action (History and Actuality).
December, 10 2021, at the Ceremonies of the 170th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Military Museum of Lisbon (MML), Most Serene Dom Filipe gave a lecture under the title: “The Cultural Action of Queen D. Maria II, founder of the MML on December 10, 1851”.
November 20, 2021, the Most Serene Dom Filipe was in Seville (Spain). There, as a member of the Constitutional Dynastic line of the Royal House of Portugal, he was received at the “Real Hermandad de San Fernando y de la Virgen de los Reys” (Royal Brotherhood of Saint Ferdinand and of Virgin Mary of the kings).
February 2020, Travel to Poland. At the Cathedral of Krakow, the Most Serene Dom Filipe, awarded the Directors of the Museum of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation with the Order of “the Arrow”, marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of that concentration camp. On that occasion Dom Filipe, had the opportunity to honor his ancestors, the Kings of Poland, having also visited the exhibition of the Royal Treasures of the Kraków Palace.
Marking the 75th anniversary of the end of the 2nd World War, Dom Filipe decorated the Commanding Colonel of the Skawinia Scout Group with the Order of “the arrow”, thus paying tribute to the Polish soldiers killed in combat, having received on that occasion the Commemorative Medal of the Battle of Monte Cassino.
January 18, 2020, Most Serene Dom Filipe received in the Military Order of St. Sebastian, said of “the Arrow”, several personalities, among them the Colonel of Infantry Raúl Miguel Socorro Folques (Member of the Council of the Former Military Orders), as well as his daughter, Lady Dona Luísa Folques and the Colonel of Cavalry Francisco Amado Rodrigues (Director of the Library and Museum Collection of the Portuguese Military Academy).
December 2, 2019, United Arab Emirates National Day, Most Serene Dom Filipe was present at the reception of the United Arab Emirates National Day, in Lisbon, being received by the Ambassador of that Federation that celebrated the 48th anniversary of its foundation.
October 6, 2019, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, USA, Dom Filipe was in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (USA), where he paid a symbolic tribute to the Portuguese volunteers of the New York Infantry Regiment 39 who fought in this famous battle of the American Civil War. Dom Filipe was accompanied, on this visit, by civil and ecclesiastical authorities, as well as Gulf War veterans, whom Dom Filipe was right to award with the Order of Saint Sebastian, said of the Arrow, insignia.
June 4, 2019, in the context of the 2nd Centenary of the Birth of Queen Dona Maria II, Academia de Marinha (Academy of Navy) in partnership with the National Academy of Fine Arts, organized a colloquium on this ephemeris, having the Most Serene Dom Filipe, made a communication on the theme the Consorts and Pretenders of Queen Dona Maria II.
March, 19, 19 – Apostolic Nunciature to Portugal – The Most Serene Dom Filipe with His Excellency D. Rino Passigato, Apostolic Nuncio in Lisbon, on the occasion of the 6th Anniversary of the Pontificate of the Pope Francisco.
January 19, 2019 – Military Academy, the Most Serene Dom Filipe gave to Major-General João Vieira Borges (Military Academy Commander), the diploma and insignia of Honour Knight Commander of the Military Order of S. Sebastian, known as “da Frecha”, awarded to the Military Academy. of Portugal. After the cerimony, a Mass was celebrated in the Palace of Bemposta Church, in honor of the Martyr Saint Sebastian, Saint Patron of the Order and of the Artillery Arm of Portuguese Army.
December 5, 2018 – Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Award for Modern and Contemporary History (2018) of the Portuguese Academy of History , at the ceremony under the Presidency of Prof. Manuela Mendonça (President of the Portuguese Academy of History), Dom Filipe received from the hands of Prof.. Guilherme de Oliveira Martins, the Calouste Gulbenkian Award for the best work in Modern and Contemporary History (2018), of the Portuguese Academy of History prizes,da Academia Portuguesa da História, due to his work “O Duque de Loulé – Crónica de um Percurso Político (1804-1875)”.
2018 – Travel to Poland, On the centenary of Polish Independence, Dom Filipe, was received by the Governor of Malopolska. having spoken about the promotion and safeguard of the European civilizational heritage, developed over the last years by APTCE in Poland, and about the historical-cultural actions developed by Dom Filipe, strengthening the cultural ties between Portuguese and Poles.
Dom Filipe had the opportunity to visit the headquarters of the Skawina (Malapolska) Scout Group, being welcomed by their leaders. There, after honoring the fallen Poles in combat (in the 1st and 2nd World Wars), he highlighted the role of the Scout movement around the world, particularly in the formation of the new generations, based on the perennial values of the Fatherland and Family, founded on honor and dignity of man.
Dom Filipe was officially received by the Governor of Donoslaski (Wroclaw) and on this occasion he honored Colonel Ryszard Filipowicz (now the late R.I.P.), former Polish WWII fighter and member of the resistance against Nazism and Communism.
Dom Philip attributed the Honorific Commander of the Order “da frecha” to the Image of St. Sebastian of Zatonia (Zilona Gora).
2017 – Journey to Poland.- Most Serene Dom Filipe began his visit paying homage to his ancestors the Kings of Poland Stanislaus I and August II, buried in the crypt of Krakow Cathedral.
See below the relationship of Dom Filipe with the kings of Poland.
Most Serene Dom Filipe was officially received by the Governor of the MaloPolska Region and the Mayor of Krakow.
The Most Serene Dom Filipe and his entourage were received by the Auxiliary Bishop of Krakow in the Episcopal Palace of that city.
Dom Filipe and his entourage were received at the Krakow Prison Center, by his Drector. Dom Filipe used the occasion to pay tribute to the political prisioners to the political prisoners (dead and tortured) of the Soviet regime, at the memorial of the former prison.
The Most Serene Dom Filipe, as President of the APTCE Honor Committee, was one of the invited speakers to the conference: “Europe after the experiences of Guernica and Auschwitz”, organized by the Oswiecim City Hall in partnership with the Auschwitz Museum. – Birkenau.
The Most Serene Dom Filipe awarded with the Military Order of Saint Sebastião, some Polish veteran combatants of World War II, in honor of their sacrifice and dedication for the benefit of the Polish nation and freedom in Europe
19 de Julho de 2017 – Commemoration of the 300th anniversary of the Battle of Matapan, Dom Filipe, as Representative Heir of Admiral Lopo Furtado de Mendóça (Count of Rio Grande) – Commander of the Portuguese fleet that beat the Turks in the famous Battle of Matapão, unveiled a plaque alluding to that ephemeris in Praça de Armas of Portuguese Navy headquarters. In this solemn act, Dom Filipe was accompanied by Admiral Silva Ribeiro (Chief of Naval Staff) and General Artur Pina Monteiro (Chief of the Armed Forces General Staff).
Abril, 18, 2018, Award Grémio Literário 2017, at Grémio Literário (in Lisboa), the Most Serene Dom Filipe, received from Dr. António Pinto Marques (President of Grémio Literáario) the Award Grémio Literário (2017), attributed to the work of his own “O Duque de Loulé – Crónica de um Percurso Político (1804-1875)”.
November, 6, 2017 – Grémio Literário (in Lisbon) – Book presentation ceremony – “O Duque de Loulé – Crónica de um Percurso Político (1804-1875)” by Dom Filipe (Count of Rio Grande). It was subsequently presented in Porto (28 November 2017) and Loulé (7 August 2018).
This work reproduces the Doctoral Thesis of its author in Contemporary History, defended in doctoral public examination on September, 21, 2016, at the University of Coimbra. The public presentation of the work was made by Professor Pedro Soares Martínez, who captivated all present with his characteristic eloquence. The work was published by Orfeu Bookstore-Publisher, Brussels.
October 23, 2017 – 300 years of Royal Basílica of Mafra, the Most Serene Dom Filipe, attended, as a Descendent Member of the Royal House of Portugal (and representative of El-King Dom João V in that act), to the Mass presided by His Eminence Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon, evocative of the 300th anniversary of the erection of the Royal Basilica of Mafra, by King Dom João V will.
March 1, 2017 – Doctoral Letter – University of Coimbra, In the Great Acts Room of the University of Coimbra (Old Throne Room of the former Royal Palace), Dom Filipe received his Doctoral Letter from the Dean of the University of Coimbra – João Gabriel Monteiro de Carvalho e Silva, PhD , and by the Director of the Faculty of Letters – José Pedro Paiva, PhD.
January 21, 2017 – Order of St. Sebastian – Investiture Ceremony, in the Chapel of the Queen Palace – Military Academy. The Investiture of new Members of the Military Order of St. Sebastian, said of the Arrow, was held. On this occasion Dom Filipe received in that Order the Paratrooper Manuel Augusto Marques (meanwhile deceased, R.I.P.), awarding the Association of Paratroopers Greens Berets, with the Honorary Knight Commander.
September 21, 2016 – PhD Thesis Defense, in the Great Acts Room of the University of Coimbra, Dom Filipe defended his PhD Thesis in Contemporary History. Most Serene Dom Filipe, is the first Dynastic Member of the Royal House of Portugal, and descendant of King Dom Jose I to conclude a doctorate degree at this university.
July 2, 2015 – Feasts of the Shrine of Senhor de Matosinhos, the Most Serene Dom Filipe was the guest of honor at the celebrations in honor of Martyr Saint Sebastian, held by the Feast Comission of the Shrine of Snhor de Matosinhos. On this occasion Dom Filipe attributed the Honorary Knight Commander of the Military Order of Saint Sebastian to the Image of that Saint venerated in the Mother Church, accompanying it in the procession.
October 18, 2014 – Barcelos, Dom Filipe was officially received by the Mayor of the city of Barcelos, as a Dynastic Member of the Royal House of Portugal. Then, a guided tour was made to the ruins of the Palace of the Dukes of Bragança and the house of the Constable Dom Nuno Álvares Pereira, ancestors of the Most Serene Princess Dona Ana de Jesus Maria de Bragança and Bourbon (Countess of Barcelos), Grandmother of Dom Filipe.
October, de 2014, Honoring the city of Barcelos, Dom Filipe presented the Diploma and Insignia of Honorary Commander in the Military Order of Saint .Sebastian, said of the Arrow, the City Council of Barcelos, in the person of Mayor and Vice-Mayor,
October 2014 – Presentation of the work “Chivalric Orders in Barcelos”, by Dr. Alfredo Còrte-Real. The presentation session was attended by the Most Serene Dom Filipe who presented the work as President of the Council of Dynastic Orders of Portugal, and by Colonel António Feijó (Member of the Council of the Portuguese Assembly of the Sovereign and Military Order of Malta) On this occasion, the vice-Mayor of Barcelos welcomed the edition of this work. . This presentation was followed by the opening of an exhibition on the theme of the Orders of Chivalry.
June 10, 2014, in the Tower of Valdenoceda, Region of Castilla-Leon, Kingdom of Spain, the Most Serene Dom Filipe receives from Master Rubén Pérez Llarena and Don Álvaro Enrique de Villamor a carved heraldic piece with his personal arms. This piece was crafted at the “Juan del Castillo” Highest Arts and Crafts Guild.
June, 9 2013 – Homage, S. Miguel, Azores, The Most Serene Dom Filipe, paid a Homage to the glorious and victorious liberating Army, at the place of the battle of Ladeira a Velha (S. Miguel Island, Azores), on August, 3 1831, 1831, where the Liberals defeated the absolutist hosts, expelling them from their last redoubt in that archipelago of Azores.
10th and 11th May 2013 – International Seminar, Ateneu de Sevilha, Seville, Dom Filipe presidid, together, with General Don Laurentino Ceña Coro (Commander of the da 4.ª Zone of Spanish Civil Guard), to the International Seminar held at Ateneu de Sevilha (Seville Athenaeus, Spain), on the theme: “”Emerging Problems in General Security”.
January, 20 2012 -Order of Saint Sebastian – Dubbing Ceremony, Dom Filipe, presidid to the dubbing ceremony of new members od the Military Order of Saint Sebastian, said of the Arrow, à cerimónia de investidura de novos membros da Ordem Militar de São Sebastião, dita da Frecha, held in the Chapel of Bemposta Palace, Lisbon, having the Mass been celebrated by The Most Rev. Abílio de Sousa Ribas, Bishop Emeritus of S. Tomé e Príncipe.
November 10, 2011, Most Serene Dom Filipe, accompanied by Army Colonel Fernando Pinto Simões, attended a protocol ceremony sponsored by the Directorate of History and Military Culture of the Portuguese Army., officially received by its Director Major General Adelino de Matos Coelho.
January 23, 2011 – Celebrations in Honor of S. Sebastian, Huelva, Spain. Dom Filipe, participated in the feasts in honor of the Martyr Saint Sebastian in Huelva (Spain), having attended the celebration of Holy Mass presided by Bishop Don José Vilaplana, to whom the Most Serene Dom Filipe handed over the insignia of the Order of the Arrow destined to the Image of Saint Sebastian. On this occasion the Most Serene offered a particle of the relic of that Martyr to the Parish of Huelva. This Relic was placed in a bas-relief carved by Master Alberto Gérman Franco, located in the crypt of that Church.
April 25, 2010 – Oña Monastery, the Most Serene Dom Filipe, visited the Oña Monastery, paying tribute to his ancestors, the Kings of Castile, who are buried in the Church of that Monastery, namely near the tomb of King D. Sancho II.
April 1, 2010 – Ajuda Palace, months before the fateful centenary of the fall of the Monarchy, Dom Filipe and his entourage paid a symbolic tribute to the Kings of Portugal, visiting the Ajuda Palace. They were received by the Director of that National Palace.
January 20, 2010 – Military Order of San Sebastian – Ceremony of Admission. It was held in the Chapel of the Palace of Bemposta (Paço da Rainha – Military Academy), under the Presidency of the Most Serene Dom Filipe, another ceremony of investiture in the Military Order of S. Sebastian, said of the Arrow. The Mass, in Honor of Martyr Saint Sebastian, was celebrated by Canon Doctor Manuel Alves Lourenço, Chancellor of the Patriarchate of Lisbon and Dean of Cathedral Seat of the Patriarchate of Lisbon.
August 20-23, 2009 – Military Order of Saint Sebastian – Meeting. In Barcelos, a meeting of the members of the Military Order of S. Sebastião, known as of the Arrow, was held. In addition to the ceremony of Admission for new members of the Order and the Gala Dinner, the guests were able to make a cultural visit to monuments of that Northern Portugal, in particular those linked to the history of the House of Braganza, namely to the Saint Condestable, D. Nuno Álvares Pereira and to the Counts and Dukes of Barcelos (and Dukes of Bragança), ancestors of the Most Serene Dom Filipe.
January 21, 2009 – Military Order of Saint Sebastian, said of the Arrow – Another Admission Ceremony on the Military Order of Saint Sebastian, said of the Arrow, was held. This was followed by a dinner in the Valmor mansion (Businessmen’s Club). The Most Serene Dom Filipe received in the Order of the Arrow, among others, Colonel António José de Mello Machado, to whom the Order’s Council renders its tribute for all that he did during the missions entrusted to him in defense of the integrity of his Homeland.
22 October 2008 – Anniversary of King D. João V – Mafra Palace, on King Dom João V’s Birth Anniversary Day, Dom Filipe, accompanied with some members of the Council of the Royal Order of the Trinity, paid a just and symbolic tribute to His Grandfather and Founder of this Royal Building.
July 24, 2008 – 175th Anniversary of the Liberation of Lisbon. On the morning of July 24, 2008, marking the 175th anniversary of the entry of the Liberating Army into Lisbon under the command of the Duke of Terceira (July 24, 1833), Most Serene Dom Filipe paid tribute at the Tombs of His Uncles, the Dukes of Terceira, located in the antechamber of the Pantheon of the House of Braganza (São Vicente de Fora). Following the death of the Duchess of Terceira (which occurred in 1866), the Representation of the Dukes of Terceira was transferred to the House of the Dukes of Loulé (D. Filipe Folque de Mendóça, The Representation of the 1st Duke of Terceira, in Revista Armas e Troféus, Portuguese Institute of Heraldry, Lisbon, 1996 [1997], pp. 235–246).
February 1, 2008 – Mass in Memory of King Dom Carlos I and Prince Dom Luís Filipe. Most Serene Dom Filipe commissioned a Holy Mass to be celebrated in remembrance of King Dom Carlos I and Prince Dom Luís Filipe, marking the solemn occasion of the centenary of the regicide. The Mass took place at the Church of Our Lady of Grace in Lisbon. Following the Holy Mass, Most Serene Dom Filipe, accompanied by members of His Council, proceeded to the Pantheon of São Vicente de Fora, where they paid tribute at the tombs of the King and the Prince Royal.
In this context, it is fitting to highlight the work of Jorge de Morais, Regicide: The Countdown 100 Years (1908–2008), in which the author explicitly and unreservedly exposes those involved in the monstrous crime. Among others, the names of José d’Alpoim and Francisco de Herédia (Viscount of Ribeira Brava) undeniably appear (Jorge de Morais, Regicide: The Countdown 100 Years (1908–2008), pp. 127, 128, 129, 130, 132, 160, 161).
December 1, 2007 – Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, Guimarães On the day commemorating the Restoration of Portugal’s Independence, Most Serene Dom Filipe visited the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza in Guimarães, paying a distinguished tribute to his ancestors. Among them, King Dom Afonso Henriques, revered as the Founder of the Nation, and King Dom João IV, acknowledged as the Founder of the Braganza Dynasty. On this occasion, His Serene Lord Dom Filipe was received by the Mayor of Guimarães and the Director of the Palace.
August 7, 2007 – Palace of Mafra On August 7, 2007, Most Serene Dom Filipe was received by the Director of the Library of the Palace of Mafra, where he spent considerable time appreciating various volumes belonging to his esteemed ancestor, King Dom João V, the Founder of the Royal Palace and Convent of Mafra.
September 25, 2007 – Statement from the Secretary-General of the Dom João VI Institute. This was a clarification issued by Dr. Luís Bívar. To consult the text, click here.
January 20, 2007 – Mass in Honor of Saint Sebastian In Lisbon, a Holy Mass was celebrated at the Church of the Most Holy Sacrament (in Chiado) in honor of the martyr Saint Sebastian. His Most Serene Lord Dom Filipe attended the ceremony, accompanied by several members of the Council of the Military Order of Saint Sebastian, said of the Arrow.
December 23, 2006 – Commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Infanta Ana de Jesus Maria The Dom João VI Institute commissioned a Holy Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Martyrs, in Lisbon, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Her Highness, Infanta Dona Ana de Jesus Maria of Braganza and Bourbon. Following the celebration of the Holy Mass, a book was presented in the Brotherhood Hall of the same Basilica, titled Infanta Dona Ana de Jesus Maria, Infanta of Portugal – Marchioness of Loulé. This event was presided over by His Most Serene Dom Filipe, Count of Rio Grande, with the presentation conducted by Dr. Luís Bivar de Azevedo.
January 20, 2006 – Investiture Ceremony of the Military Order of Saint Sebastian The investiture ceremony of the Military Order of Saint Sebastian, said of the Arrow, was held at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Martyrs, Lisbon, under the presidency of Most Serene Dom Filipe. The Holy Mass in honor of the martyr Saint Sebastian was celebrated by the Reverend Canon Armando Duarte, Prior of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Martyrs and the Church of the Most Holy Sacrament.
Casa de S.A. o Sereníssimo Senhor D. Filipe, Conde do Rio Grande 