Dear Jose II,
I am writing to you in English, not knowing whether you are Portuguese - like myself -, or British or American. I took great interest in your post about the visits of D. Miguel II to Portugal.
You see, I am a writer of historic novels and am at the moment writing on this subject. I am in tru need of more precise information regarding the comings od the duke to Portugal, namely the one he did with his sister Aldegundes and her husband, Enrico de Bourbon-Parma. I would appreciate more detailed data, like dates and whoever they met in here. I will be searching the national files soon, to which dates would be most welcome.
Information on Aldegundes would also be great.
Thank you for your kind attention.
"Infanta D.Aldegundes was a lady of sharp intelligence and remarkable education.
She accompanied her husband in the oceanographic investigations he performed, specially in the Mediterranean, on board of their yachts "Sayonara" and "Adelgonda".
The couple toured India, Japan, Australia and the Antilles.
D.Aldegundes visited Portugal several times in a clandestine way due to the Banning Law. Those visits were well known both to the Government and the RF who never started any official proceedings.
In one of her journeys, she used an english passport and posed as her lady-in-waiting's maid.
In 1880 and 1883 she visited Lisbon, in 83 with her husband and brother D.Miguel II.
In 1883 the Count fell suddenly ill and had to come ashore and stay at an hotel in Lisbon. The Government, as usual, ignored their presence, but apparently the RF discretely interested and enquired about the Count's health.
When the Count was already convalescent, D.Aldegundes and D.Miguel II decided to attend São Carlos theater but they were recognized by some spectators and had to abandon the theater and rush out of the country.
In 1911-1912 the Infanta supported moral and finacially the monarchic invasions commanded by Paiva Couceiro, in order to restore the monarchy, travelling to Galicia to help the organization.
When her brother D.Miguel II abdicated his rights on D.Duarte Nuno, D.Aldegundes was appointed political tutoress of her nephew with the role of a Regent, and was then created Duchess of Guimarães.
In her Regent capacity, she negotiated the Pact of Paris in 1922 to rule the dynastic situation due to D.Manuel II lack of successors.
After the outbreak of WW2, she moved from Seebenstein to Switzerland with her nephews.
She expressed the wish to visit Portugal for the Double Centennary Exhibitions of 1940, but due to frail health and advanced age, she could not travel.
She was a Lady of the Starry Cross of Austria and of Honorary Lady of Saint Elisabeth in Bavaria."
From Nobreza de Portugal e do Brasil by Afonso Zuquete.
Hope it will help.
Concerning clandestine trips, there are rumours, never confirmed and scarcely documented that D.Miguel I also visited Portugal after he was forced to exile.
According to these sources he was supposed to have had a secret meeting with his grand-nephew D.Pedro V at Mafra Convent-Palace.
Everything was convenientelly hushed and never reached the public opinion.
D.Pedro V had a particular interest to his uncle whom he felt was ill-treated by his grand-father D.Pedro IV and he pitied the economic conditions D.Miguel and his family had to endure.