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| Marlene A Eilers Koenig collection |
September 15, 1909.
Anita Rhinelander Stewart was married today to Prince Miguel of Braganza. The marriage took place at Scotland's Tulloch Castle. Crowds "flocked from surrounding counties," to witness the festivities. The weather was described as "fine and the gray streets were enlivened with the display of national flags."
The bride's mother, Mrs. James Henry Smith, has already paid Prince Miguel's debt, which amounts to more than $800,000. This morning, it was announced that Mrs. Smith has also made a further settlement on her son-in-law.
The bride has an interest for life on $500,000, which was settled on her by her stepfather.
The bride did not attend the first part of the wedding, which was a nuptial mass at St. Lawrence Roman Catholic church. She has not yet been received into the faith. Prince Miguel did attend this mass and was accompanied by his parents, the duke and duchess of Braganza, and his younger brother, Francis Joseph.
It is understood that the bride has not made any decisions about abandoning her Protestant faith. Prince Miguel will "not push the matter," according to the New York Times.
The wedding mass took place at noon, and the small church was filled with friends and relatives of the bride and groom.
The wedding decorations were "brilliant and extensive" and included palms, white lilies, and Lillies of the valley.
Prince Francis Joseph was his brother's best man. Anita Stewart did not have any attendants although she was walked down the aisle by her brother, William Rhinelander Stewart. She wore a "soft, long trained gown of white chiffon over a soft satin chiffon which had long lines of fine embroidery designed in white silk, silver, and tiny pearls."
The bridal veil was "historic lace worn over a wreath of orange blossoms", and was fastened by a "magnificent feather-shaped cluster of diamonds and sapphires." The cluster, which has been in the possession of the Portuguese royal family for more than 200 years, was Miguel's gift to his bride.
The bride also wore a set of combs with diamond heads, which were a gift from Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria.
When Anita arrived at the church, she "graciously posed for an army of photographers and waved her hand to cheers."
The Star-Spangled Banner and the Austrian national anthem were played as the newlyweds got into their carriage and were driven back to Tulloch for a post-wedding luncheon.
No announcement was made about the honeymoon but is believed that the new Duke and Duchess of Vizea will be visiting Vienna to meet with Austrian emperor Franz Joseph.
11 comments:
oh very interesting news indeed...I'm anxious to know how the Duchess will be received by the Emperor...thank you marlene
Anita was very rich ... very acceptable.
Prince Miguel was related to the Imperial family. His mother was Princess Elisabeth of Thurn and Taxis, the niece of the legendary Empress Sissi. His grandmother was Duchess Helene in Bavaria, who had been considered as the wife of the Emperor but he chose her younger sister Sissi.
His father was even considered as husband for the widowed Crown Princess Stephanie, the widow of Archduke Rudolph, the Emperor's late son. The New York Times even reported the engagement but it never happened and Stephanie married a Hungarian Count, later raised to princely status.
Hi Marlene, wow what have you dug! As a curious portuguese who tracked the Braganzas (more or less) I will forever be mesmerized by this Anita Stewart episode, mainly because this was the heir to the throne, who gave up his rights and those of his born children in favour of a younger half brother. How can that be? that younger brother is the grandfather of today's heir to the portuguese throne. In the 1980s, I met Miguel de Braganza, a grandson of Anita and Miguel.Nice chap, looks just like his great great grandfather King Miguel. best regards Antonio Botelho de Melo
I wrote an article on Anita Stewart some years ago for Royalty Digest.
I love this blog! The pictures are amazing and the articles interesting. I am glad to read more.
Have you a picture of Elisabeth Thurn and Taxis, the first wife of Miguel Braganza?
Greetings
Thanks for your kind remarks. I do not, however, have a photo of Elisabeth.
Hello again, found several other curious pieces of Anita Stewart trivia. One is that she was drop dead beautiful. That she would marry such an apparent deadbeat as Miguel (her mother paid off huge gambling debts prior the the Scotland marriage)is a testimony to her (or her mother's) fascination with royal status. Another curiosity is that she is buried in a little church in Middletown, Rhode Island. Now, how did she go from top of the social foodchain in Manhattan to buried in little Middletown, RI? I lived in RI for years (I went to Brown University in Providence) and could not have ever dreamed that Anita's resting place was half an hour away. RIP Anita & best regards to my fellow royal analysts, Antonio
Anita was always at the top of the social food chain, as you put it. I have a lot of information about Anita, and wrote an article about her for Royalty Digest some years ago.
Hi Marlene,
I love to read your blog! Did Anita ever turn Catholic?
No. Anita remained Episcopalian.
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