Today’s evening, this Saturday June 4, 2005, the city of Cetinje, in the heart of traditional Montenegro, hosted the first gala ceremony of the Order of Danilo I in the country since 90 years. This prestigious event in the old Royal Capital — placed under the High Patronage of the President of Montenegro, H.E. Mr. Filip Vujanović, and his wife Svetlana — started by an investiture ceremony in the historic setting of the Blue Saloon of the King’s Palace, the former official reception room of King Nikola I.

The highly symbolic ceremony was the occasion for Hereditary Grand Master H.R.H. Crown Prince Nicolas to invest H.R.H. Dom Duarte III Pio of Portugal, 24th Duke of Bragança, with the insignia of Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Danilo I.

In his congratulation address, the Hereditary Grand Master particularly insisted on the numerous values he shares with the Heir to the Portuguese throne, notably their common attachment to the fundamental principles of democracy, and their full support to the people’s right to self-determination. Crown Prince Nicolas thus remembered the essential role played by H.R.H. Dom Duarte III Pio in the organisation of several national and international campaigns for the independence of East Timor — a former Portuguese colony in Asia — which resulted in an independence referendum being held on August 30, 1999.
As for him supporting the independence of his country from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro (SCG), Crown Prince Nicolas aired his hope that a new popular consultation by referendum can be soon called in Montenegro.

In absentia, the Hereditary Grand Master also invested the wife of Dom Duarte Pio, H.R.H. Dona Isabel de Herédia, Duchess of Bragança, with the insignia of Dame Grand Cross in the Order of Danilo I. On the occasion, Crown Prince Nicolas expressed his great pride that a person so actively engaged in the help and the support to deprived and uncared children, by another way daughter of Jorge de Herédia, architect like him, be received in the Order.