80 years ago, a royal baby was born in an embassy.

His father was in exile, but to make sure that the little infant was born in native soil, D.Duarte Nuno de Braganza, the then Duke of Braganza, arranged with the portuguese authorities for the Duchess D.Maria Francisca to give birth at the portuguese embassy in Berne, Switzerland.

The royal baby, D.Duarte Pio, celebrates today his 80th birthday.

It has been a very busy week for HRH, despite his age.

Last Tuesday, May the 13th, the royal couple attended the celebrations of Our Lady of Fatima, some 130kms north of Lisbon.

Later, they returned to Lisbon for a Thanksgiving Mass as, that day, D.Duarte and D.Isabel celebrated their pearl anniversary (30 years of marriage).

The Mass took place at Basilica da Estrela in central Lisbon and was attended by the whole family, the couple, their two sons, the Prince of Beira and the Duke of Porto, daughter D.Maria Francisca Duchess of Coimbra and her husband Duarte de Sousa Araújo Martins as well as D.Duarte's only living brother, Infante D.Miguel, Duke of Viseu.

Several cousins from Portugal, Brazil, Austria and Liechtenstein attended, as well as Prince Ali Khan, the brother of the late Aga Khan, as well as members of the local aristocracy, Diana de Cadaval and her daughter Isabelle of Orléans, the Marquesses of Lavradio, Isabel Palmela, Marquesses of Sabugosa, etc.

It was followed by a sunset party for the guests.

Yesterday, May 14th, it was the Dukes's son-in-law birthday and there was a more restrict party.

Today, HRH will celebrate his birthday with close family and friends, and only tomorrow (16th) there will be a major celebration with a show by the Portuguese Horse High School at the grounds of Lisbon's Carriage Museum, followed by a dinner where most RF's related to the Braganzas were invited.

Saturday, there will be a more restrict dinner at Palácio do Correio-Mor on the outskirts 0f Lisbon, for the guests that will stay for the week-end.

TVI, Portugal's 4th channel, hosted a program before last tuesday's Mass, where the Duke and Duchess and their children and son-in-law were interviewed.

D.Maria Francisca and Duarte spoke about their wish to start a family and the Duchess referred she started working for an art gallery recently.

More information (and videos and pictures) at the Franco-Iberian Royal Message Board.