Miguel renounces throne because of romance with American

July 23, 1909

Prince Miguel of Braganza has demonstrated "the power of love," today when he "renounced forever" the rights to the throne of Portugal to marry the extraordinarily rich American, Miss Anita Rhinelander Stewart. Miguel is the eldest son of the pretender to the Portuguese throne.

According to a special cable to the Chicago Tribune, the engagement, which was announced on July 9, was the "culmination of a real 'love-at-first-sight romance."

The young couple met less than three months ago when Miss Stewart and her mother were crossing from France to Dover with their new French fashions for the upcoming London season. The prince knew nothing of the mother and daughter nor of him, but Miguel was "instantly attracted" to Anita Stewart. He was "on pins and needles for an introduction."

Miguel "moved heaven and earth in his endeavors" to find an opening to introduce himself. The Americans assumed a "haughty attitude" which made his advancements even more difficult. When they arrived in Dover, Prince Miguel tried to travel in their carriage, but this, too, failed because Anita's mother "had taken the precaution to engage beforehand a first-class compartment."

By this time, Mrs. Smith and her daughter were "thoroughly suspicious" and anxious" about the "handsome foreigner who was shadowing them." They asked a guard to lock them into their compartment, but even this action did not prevent Dom Miguel from hanging around the corridor.

In London, Anita and her mother entered their "motor brougham," for the ride to their house in Grosvenor Square. Prince Miguel offered a cab driver a sovereign if he could pace with Mrs. Smith's car.

The Grosvenor Square address "soon established the identity of the Americans. The rest was comparatively easy."

Prince Miguel was able to induce a friend to take him to Mrs. Smith's home. One of the first things he did was apologize for his behavior during the channel crossing. He said he "wanted so badly to know them."

Mrs. Smith did not think that Miguel had any "intentions" for her daughter, but after a half dozen visits to the house, Miguel made it clear that he wanted to marry Anita.

Mrs. Smith "refused point-blank" to accept Miguel's offer. She said she would not allow her daughter to "enter the life of political intrigue which must necessarily be associated with the personality of Dom Miguel."

Unfortunately for Mrs. Smith, Anita's affections were already engaged. Anita declared that she would be Miguel's bride. She admitted that she was underage, and she said she would wait, and "Dom Miguel would wait too."

Miguel, however, was not willing to wait. "Wait indeed! Certainly not," was Miguel's response. He told Anita that he "would run away with her to the end of the earth if necessary."

Perplexed, but "wholly delighted," Anita went to her mother to "coax her" to accept the marriage.

Mrs. Smith, "realizing the impetuosity and the determination of the foreigner, gave her consent."

The wedding is expected to take place in October.