The 650th anniversary of the Luso-British Alliance was solemnly celebrated this Thursday in London by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and the British King, Carlos III, in a religious ceremony with military pomp.
The Anglican Thanksgiving Service [Thanksgiving] It took place in the Capela da Rainha, frequented by Queen Catarina de Bragança (1638-1705) during her marriage to the English King Carlos II.
Queen Catherine’s coat of arms, joined to that of Carlos I, in carved wood, still stands out above the altar and in the gallery, representing the close ties between the British royal family and Portugal.
Outside, two military detachments and a band were formed, including a regimental mounted group of the Household Cavalry and a foot group of Welsh Guards from the Household Division.
The British King and the Portuguese President arrived together by car from Buckingham Palace, where they reviewed a Military Honor Guard, and walked through the Chapel gate flanked by military wings from both countries.
The entrance to the Chapel was announced by four official trumpeters, raising the audience to nearly one hundred people.
Present were the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Portugal and the United Kingdom, João Gomes Cravinho and James Cleverly, and the Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Armed Forces, General Nunes da Fonseca.
Among the guests were the UK ambassador to Portugal, Christopher Sainty, the Portuguese ambassador to UNESCO, Rosa Batoréu, as well as the Dukes of Bragança and Wellington.
The ceremony included readings in English and Portuguese and a program with music by English and Portuguese authors, with pieces by William Byrd, Thomas Tomkins, Vicente Lusitano, Diogo Dias Melgás and Manuel Rodrigues Coelho.
Vocal compositions were performed by the Queen’s College Choir, Oxford University and the Royal Chapel Choir. [Chapel Royal].
This Thursday’s event was the culmination of the program of activities of Portugal-UK 650, an unofficial, non-profit initiative that organized the celebrations for the 650th anniversary of the Luso-British Alliance, which was sponsored by the two heads of State.
In a short speech, the president of Portugal-UK 650, Maria João Rodrigues de Araújo, stated that the objective was to “celebrate and promote the common history” and “write new chapters of cooperation”.
“I sincerely believe that we have achieved all the goals we set for ourselves. We have established long-term projects and collaborations that will consolidate the bonds of friendship between the citizens of our two nations, ensuring that the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance, the oldest Alliance still in existence, will continue to prosper,” he underlined.
As they left, the King and the President looked at the original 1373 Treaty of London, which is normally kept in the British National Archives, and greeted some of the people who took part in the celebrations.
Before leaving, Carlos III and Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa exchanged a few words with Alexandre, 13, a descendant of Portuguese who is a member of the Choir of the Royal Chapel.
“I asked you if you liked the play [de Vicente Lusitano] and he said yes”, the young man told Agência Lusa, who confided that his parents and the entire Madeiran family were very excited that he could speak with the King and the President.
Chapel Royal Choir conductor Joseph McHardy highlighted Alexandre’s help in perfecting the pronunciation of the Portuguese national anthem, which was performed, along with the UK national anthem, at the end of the ceremony.
The Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Alliance signed on June 16, 1373 by Edward III of England and King Ferdinand I of Portugal formalizes the rapprochement of the two countries provided for in the Treaty of Tagilde, concluded between King Ferdinand I and the emissaries of the Duke. of Lencastre, Juan de Gante, son of Eduardo III.
In addition to a declaration of “true, faithful, constant, mutual and perpetual friendship”, the text determines that neither party must be friends or favor and help enemies or rivals and must help allies if any of the territories of any of the kings is invaded.
The alliance was renewed in the 1386 Treaty of Windsor and by various other treaties over the centuries.
Source: TSF
