Isabel, Duchess of Braganza

Dona Isabel, Princess Royal of Portugal, Duchess of Braganza (nee Castro Curvelo Heredia; born 22 November 1966) is a Portuguese businesswomen, noblewomen, and the wife of Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza, the current pretender to the defunct Portuguese throne. Born to descendants of Portuguese peerage (see: Portuguese nobility), Castro Curvelo Heredia worked as an assets manager prior to her marriage.

Since becoming the Duchess of Braganza, Isabel has left the professional world, devoted her attention to her family, and become patron to several Portuguese charities and non-profit foundations. She and the Duke have three children together, thus securing the continuation of the House of Braganza.

Early Life

Isabel Ines Castro Curvelo Heredia was born on 22 November 1966, in Lisbon, to D. Jorge Heredia, an architect, and D Raquel Leonor Pinheiro Curvelo, his wife. Since birth, she was entitled to the honorific styling of Dona (Lady), being a descendant of Francisco Correia Heredia, 1st Viscount of Ribeira Brava, of Portuguese peerage (see: Portuguese nobility) and a famed republican, who was involved in the failed republican uprising of 28 January 1908, in the male lineage.

Castro Curvelo Heredia lived between metropolitan Portugal and Portuguese Angola until 1975, when Angola was granted independence. Her family subsequently moved Sao Paulo, Brazil. There, she studied at the Colegio Sao Luis, a Jesuit-run institution. In 1990, she obtained a degree in business administration from the Fundacao Getulio Vargas and returned to Portugal to a job in BMF-Sociedade Gestao Patrimonios, S.A. She specialized as an asset manager.

Duchess of Braganza

On 13 May 1995 she married Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza, at Jeronimos Monastery. Present at the ceremony were representatives of various European royal and noble houses, President of the Republic Mario Soares, Prime Minister Anibal Cavaco Silva, and President of the Assembly Antonio Barbosa Melo, among others.

Following her marriage and the birth of her first child, Afonso, Prince of Beira, the Duchess of Braganza resigned from her professional life and devoted herself to the management of her family and the patronage of various causes. Using her privileged position for the good of others, Isabel has become the patron to:

-A private social solidarity institution which helps victims of physical abuse, negligence, and any other social injustice or disadvantage adapt socially.

-An institution linked with the Alfredo Costa Maternity, in Lisbon, which provides clothes, provisions, and other necessities children recently born to disadvantage families.

-A private social non-profit association which sponsors and support research and education for Down syndrome.

-An association linked with Santa Maria Hospital, in Lisbon, which works for the improvement of patient care at the hospital.

-An institution which temporarily hosts children, from new-born to three-years-old, that are in situations where their parents cannot take care of them.

-A social solidarity association linked with Sao Francisco Xavier Hospital, in Lisbon, that collaborates with parents and friends of deformed children, children born with serious diseases, and children born with complications due to the toxic dependencies of their mothers.

Titles, Honours, and Styles

22 November 1966-13 May 1995: Dona Isabel Ines Castro Curvelo Heredia

13 May 1995-present: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Braganza, Princess Royal of Portugal

Isabel's styling as Duchess of Braganza:

By the Grace of God, Isabel, Duchess of Braganza, Princess Royal of Portugal, Duchess of Guimaraes, Marchioness of Vila Vicosa, Countess of Ourem, Countess of Arraiolos, Countess of Neiva, Countess of Faria, Grand Mistress of the Order of Saint Isabel

National Dynastic Honours

House of Braganza: 9th Grand Mistress Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Isabel

Foreign Honours

Italy: Vatican: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre

Castroan Royal Family of Two Sicilies: Dame Grand Cross of Justice of the Castroan- Two Sicilian Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George

Sovereign Military Order of Malta: Dame Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, 3rd First Class

Montenegrin Royal Family: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Danilo I

House: Braganza (by marriage)

Religion: Roman Catholic

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