On 24 August 1911, her husband became the first President elect of the Portuguese Republic and, by extension, Lucrécia was made the first First Lady of the country, aged sixty-six. In spite of her pro-monarchy convictions, Lucrécia supported her husband, and moved with the family to Belém Palace, where she was mostly dedicated to the home, per the "female habit" of the time. However, the First Lady avoided public exposure and the commemoration of the second anniversary of the Implantation of the Republic, in 1912, was one of the only occasions she took part in a public event. On 4 October 1913, she presided over an afternoon tea for the children of the National Press employees, having been received as the wife of the Head of State. The following day, on the third anniversary of the instauration of the Republican regime, she attended a play at Teatro Nacional de São Carlos, but was not offered a seat in the presidential tribune. In November of that same year, she attended the "garden party" thrown by Manuel de Arriaga to the Brazilian sailors visiting Lisbon on occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the Brazilian Republic.