Rafael of Orléans-Braganza (; born 24 April 1986) is a member of the Imperial House of Brazil and the heir presumptive to his uncle, Bertrand of Orléans-Braganza, the current head of the Vassouras branch of the House of Orléans-Braganza and one of the two principal claimants to the defunct Brazilian throne.
He became heir presumptive on 8 November 2024, following the death of his father, Prince Antônio. A great-great-great-grandson of Brazil’s last emperor, Pedro II of Brazil, he is regarded by supporters of the Vassouras line as the current holder of the courtesy title of Prince Imperial of Brazil.
Family Born in Petrópolis, Brazil on 26 April 1986, he is the third child and second son of Prince Antônio de Orleans e Bragança and Princess Christine of Ligne. He has an older brother and sister, Prince Pedro Luiz and Princess Amélia and a younger sister, Princess Maria Gabriela. His name in full is Rafael Antonio Maria José Francisco Miguel Gabriel Gonzaga de Orléans e Bragança e Ligne.
His paternal grandparents were Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Bragança, one of two claimants to be head of the Brazilian Imperial House, and Princess Maria Elisabeth of Bavaria. His maternal grandparents were Antoine, 13th Prince of Ligne, and Princess Alix of Luxembourg. His mother's family, the House of Ligne, is one of the oldest and most prominent Wallonian noble families still extant in Belgium. Christine is a niece of Grand Duke Jean, who reigned in Luxembourg until his abdication in 2000.
Personal life Rafael has a degree in manufacturing engineering from Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, working at the InBev subsidiary in London. He is fluent in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese, and also has a predilection for football, being an avowed supporter of Fluminense FC.
Rafael also has a partnership and a tourism enterprise with headquarters in New York, Paris and Rio de Janeiro.
Rafael had previously expressed in statements his desire to marry a princess who is part of "Catholic royalty or high nobility". In May 2026 he announced that he was engaged to Margherita delle Piane, a descendent of an Italian noble family, with their wedding scheduled for November 2026 in Florence.https://www.pointdevue.fr/royal/couronnes-du-monde/dom-rafael-dorleans-bragance-je-suis-amoureux-de-margherita However, Rafael's uncle subsequently refused to give his assent to a marriage to delle Piane, meaning that any such marriage would require Rafael to renounce his dynastic rights, which would automatically pass to his sister Dona Maria Gabriela.https://g1.globo.com/rj/rio-de-janeiro/noticia/2026/07/14/casamento-principe-dom-rafael-de-orlenas-e-braganca.ghtml
Appointments In February 2022, after the floods that devastated the city of Petrópolis, Rafael came to the aid of the victims, bringing them essential goods that the imperial house received from monarchist supporters.
In November 2022, on the occasion of the World Cup, Prince Raphael was invited to attend the game by the embassy of the state of Qatar in London, the capital of the United Kingdom, where the prince currently resides and works. The prince is the guest of honor at the opening game of the Brazilian National Team against the Serbian National Football Team, at the Lusail Stadium, in Qatar.
Honors As member of the House of Orléans-Braganza, Prince Rafael hold the following positions:
Commander-Major of the Imperial Order of Our Lord Jesus Christ Commander-Major of the Imperial Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz Commander-Major of the Imperial Order of Saint James of the Sword Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of the Cross Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of Emperor Pedro I Grand Cross & Grand Dignitary-Major of the Imperial Order of the Rose
He received the following foreign honors: Grand Cross of the Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila ViçosaAnuário da Casa Imperial do Brasil, 2026.
Genealogy
Ancestry
Patrilineal descent Rafael is a member of the House of Orléans-Braganza, a sub-branch of the House of Bourbon, itself a branch of the House of Capet and of the Robertians.
Rafael's patriline is the line from which he is descended father to son. It follows the Dukes of Orléans, the Kings of France, the Dukes and Counts of Vendôme, the Counts of La Marche, the first Duke of Bourbon, a Count of Clermont, and before them, again the Kings of France. The line can be traced back more than 1,200 years and is one of the oldest in Europe.
Robert II of Worms and Rheingau, 770–807 Robert III of Worms and Rheingau, 808–834 Robert IV the Strong, 820–866 Robert I of France, 866–923 Hugh the Great, 895–956 Hugh Capet, 941–996 Robert II of France, 972–1031 Henry I of France, 1008–1060 Philip I of France, 1053–1108 Louis VI of France, 1081–1137 Louis VII of France, 1120–1180 Philip II of France, 1165–1223 Louis VIII of France, 1187–1226 Louis IX of France, 1214–1270 Robert, Count of Clermont, 1256–1317 Louis I, Duke of Bourbon, c. 1280 – 1342 James I, Count of La Marche, 1315–1362 John I, Count of La Marche, 1344–1393 Louis, Count of Vendôme, c. 1376 – 1446 Jean VIII, Count of Vendôme, 1428–1478 François, Count of Vendôme, 1470–1495 Charles de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme, 1489–1537 Antoine of Navarre, 1518–1562 Henry IV of France, 1553–1610 Louis XIII of France, 1601–1643 Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, 1640–1701 Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, 1674–1723 Louis d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans, 1703–1752 Louis Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, 1725–1785 Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, 1747–1793 Louis Philippe I, King of the French, 1773–1850 Louis, Duke of Nemours, 1814–1896 Gaston, comte d'Eu, 1842–1922 Prince Luiz of Orléans-Braganza, 1878–1920 Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza, 1909–1981 Prince Antônio of Orléans-Braganza, 1950–2024 Prince Rafael of Orléans-Braganza, 1986–
See also
Empire of Brazil Brazilian Imperial Family
References
External links