Maria Amélia became engaged to Archduke Maximilian of Austria in early 1852, but before the marriage could take place she contracted tuberculosis, and was taken to the town of Funchal on the Portuguese island of Madeira.
Maria Amélia bertunangan dengan Pangeran Maximilian dari Austria pada awal tahun 1852, tetapi sebelum perkawinan terjadi dia terjangkit tuberkulosis, dan dibawa ke kota Funchal di pulau Madeira milik Portugal.