The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh visit Portugal

Monday 1st June

Their Royal Highnesses began their visit at the Portuguese National Archive, where they unveiled the first display of the original English and Portuguese copies of the Treaty of Windsor, together side by side for the first time since 1386. The exhibition also features a wider selection of archival material, including items from the National Archives in the UK. 

Following the unveiling, Their Royal Highnesses were presented with both copies of the Treaty, before hearing from British and Portuguese historians on the significance of the exhibition’s contents. 

The Duke and Duchess then joined a reception of senior Portuguese representatives.

This year marks the 640th anniversary of the Treaty of Windsor, which cemented the world’s oldest diplomatic alliance. The Treaty of Windsor was sealed a year later by the marriage of Portugal’s King João I and England’s Philippa of Lancaster, who became Queen of Portugal. 

At Estrela Garden, Their Royal Highnesses were greeted by the Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas. Located in the heart of Lisbon, the garden is popular with locals and families. 

The Duke and Duchess departed on one of Lisbon’s iconic trams, from outside the Basilica da Estrela, travelling through the city.

At the Residence of His Majesty’s Ambassador, The Duke and Duchess attended a garden party to celebrate the people to people links at the core of the alliance, and the contribution of the British community to Portuguese society. 

Their Royal Highnesses met members of British community and Portuguese partners, who are driving positive social change through charities, social enterprises, and other community-focused initiatives.

Tuesday 2nd June

On a second day in Lisbon, The Duke of Edinburgh visited St Julian’s School, an established international school in Portugal. 

His Royal Highness was greeted by the Head Girl and Head Boy and joined a tile painting session with CERCICA, an organisation supporting children and adults with disabilities.

The Duke also watched inclusive sports activities and met members of the Portuguese Paralympic Committee and Paralympic athletes, who were showcasing sports such as judo and boccia, one of the Paralympic disciplines in which Portugal has achieved notable success. 

The Duke also met individuals involved in The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award including Youth Ambassadors, participants, staff and partners. Today, the Award operates through more than 50 schools, universities and institutions in Portugal and more than 90,000 young people have participated, developing key life skills and contributing to their communities.

Meanwhile, at the National Defence Institute, Portugal’s leading centre for strategic thinking on security and defence, The Duchess joined university students taking part in Model NATO.

Model NATO is a British Embassy Lisbon initiative that has been running annually since 2022. It brings together students from Birmingham University and six Portuguese universities to simulate a high-level meeting of NATO’s North Atlantic Council. 

The Duchess delivered a short speech on Women, Peace and Security, before speaking to students about their experience with Model NATO and future aspirations.

Her Royal Highness has been a global champion for the UN’s Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and a supporter of the UK’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) for a number of years, announcing her commitment to champion both causes on International Women’s Day in 2019. 

Later, The Duke and Duchess jointly visited TEKEVER, a leading UK-Portuguese aerospace company, at Atouguia de Baleia airfield. 

Their Royal Highnesses heard about TEKEVER’s UK and Portuguese operations before seeing demonstrations of innovative flight technology, including assembly of an Unmanned Aircraft System by a UK–Portuguese team. 

TEKEVER employs hundreds of people in Southampton, Bristol, Wales and other parts of the UK, and in 2025, announced a £400 million investment programme in the UK, expected to create over 1,000 high-skilled jobs and expand manufacturing. The company’s technology is used for maritime surveillance and also supports UK Border Force and Home Office operations.

Following this, The Duke and Duchess visited Batalha Monastery – a UNESCO World Heritage site with deep significance for the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance. 

The Duke laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, kept watch by military, in a moment of solemn remembrance.

At the Founders’ Chapel, The Duchess lay flowers at the tomb of King João I of Portugal and Queen Philippa of Lancaster. Their union in 1387 sealed the Treaty of Windsor - signed a year earlier - and helped consolidate what remains the oldest continuous diplomatic alliance in the world. Their joint tomb, depicting the couple holding hands, endures as a symbol of their marital unity and the bond between the two nations.

Queen Elizabeth II visited Batalha as part of a State Visit to Portugal in 1957. The wreath laid by Her late Majesty is on display in the Veterans Museum, located next to the monastery, which The Duke and Duchess had the opportunity to visit. 

Wednesday 3rd June

On their final day in Portugal, The Duke and Duchess were in Porto.

At Porto City Hall, The Duke and Duchess were greeted by the Mayor of Porto, Pedro Duarte, and the President of the Municipal Assembly, Marta Massada. 

Their Royal Highnesses were welcomed outside by a Guard of Honour composed of members of the Municipal Police and the Porto Firefighters Regiment. 

In a distinguished ceremony, the Mayor presented The Duke and Duchess with the Keys to the City, one of Porto’s highest honours, bestowed only on a select few. Over the past five years, it has been awarded to just nine individuals, including former Presidents of the European Council, the current President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen, and French President Emmanuel Macron. 

Following this, The Duke visited Oporto British School, where His Royal Highness joined a Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Open Day, meeting Youth Ambassadors, Award participants and alumni, expedition leaders, representatives of local schools, NGOs and community groups with whom participants have completed their voluntary service. 

Founded in 1894, the OBS, which currently has over 570 students, is the oldest British school in continental Europe. It was established by the British community—largely associated with the port wine trade—as a prep school and is a longstanding symbol of educational ties between Portugal and the United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth II visited the school in 1957 and Prince Philip, The late Duke of Edinburgh, visited Porto and addressed OBS students in 1971.

Following this, The Duke and Duchess visit the historic British Factory House, which served as the headquarters and social hub of British port wine merchants during the 18th Century. Their Royal Highnesses heard how British traders in the textile and Port wine industries continue to be woven into the city’s social, cultural and economic fabric. 

Built between 1785 and 1790, Factory House reflects the deep commercial ties between Britain and Portugal, particularly through the textiles and port wine trade. Originally established as a meeting place for merchants, it allowed British shippers to coordinate business, protect their interests, and shape the export of Port from the Douro region. Over time, it became a symbol of the strong British presence in the port wine industry.

Later, at Porto Cathedral, The Duke and Duchess were joined by Isabel Stilwell, a Portuguese author of English heritage, for a tour of the Cathedral, bringing to life the remarkable story of King João I of Portugal and Queen Philippa of Lancaster, who were married here over six centuries ago. This Royal union sealed the Treaty of Windsor in 1387 and cemented a relationship between the UK and Portugal that endures today as the oldest continuous diplomatic alliance in the world. 

The tour included a visit to the cloister, built as a wedding gift for Queen Philippa, and adorned with the iconic blue and white azulejo tiles for which Portugal is celebrated.

At Casa da Musica, The Duke and Duchess were welcomed by a dance performance by ‘Desporto no Bairro’ (‘Sport in the Neighbourhood’), a Porto municipal social-inclusion programme, promoting sport, physical activity and healthy lifestyles among young people and communities in vulnerable or disadvantaged neighbourhoods. 

Their Royal Highnesses then moved inside to enjoy a short concert of Portuguese music by Casa da Musica’s resident Baroque Orchestra. 

Casa da Música is Porto city’s cultural landmark concert hall and cultural institution, renowned for its distinctive modern architecture. Through its Educational Service, the Foundation delivers extensive programmes for schools, young people and communities, aiming to broaden access to music, develop creative skills and promote social inclusion.

Finally, at Graham's Port Lodge, The Duke and Duchess were given a tour of the cellars by members of the Symington family, including a demonstration of the sustainability initiatives embedded throughout the production process. 

Their Royal Highnesses will be invited to baptise a cask of Port – splashing wine over the cask in a time-honoured ceremony. The cask will join a remarkable collection set aside to mark Royal visits and significant occasions over the years. 

Graham’s Port, founded in 1820, operates from the historic Graham’s Port Lodge in Vila Nova de Gaia (1890), which remains in use for ageing wines and now serves as a flagship visitor centre with extensive cellars, rare vintages and a restaurant with views across the river.