
As she undertook her first official visit to Portugal, Princess Leonor was given the Grand Cross of the Military Order of Christ by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
The Order, which has three homonyms around the world in the Holy See, the House of Orléans-Bragança and Kongo (an ancient African Kingdom located in the territory of modern day Angola), has very ancient origins, as it is one of the “evolutions” of the Order of Knight Templar.
The Order of the Knight Templar was abolished by a 1312 papal bull by Pope Clement V, following some scandals (true or false, it depends on the accounts); however, King Denis I of Portugal refused to abide by the requests of the Catholic Church to investigate and prosecute suspected Knights involved in the scandal, and, in 1319, founded the Order of Christ.
Following extensive negotiations with Pope Clement V’s successor, Pope John XXII, King Denis of Portugal obtained Papal recognition for the new order, as well as the right for them to inherit the Templars’ assets and property – a right which was decreed in a Papal bull issued on the 14th of March 1319.

Following the acquisition of many extra assets and, subsequently, an increase of powers during the so-called age of discoveries, the Order of Christ was secularised in 1789 by Queen Maria I of Portugal.
With the 1910 abolition of the Portuguese Monarchy, the Order was extinguished, and many thought that it would be relegated to the pages of history. However, only seven years later, it was revived, and, together with the Order of Avis and the Order of St James of the Sword, went on to form a group of Ancient Military Orders.
These are presided by a Grand Master, the President of the Portuguese Republic, who in turn appoints a government, formed by a Chancellor and a Council of 8 members.
The Order of Christ today has six classes: Grand Collar (introduced in 2021), Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer and Knight/Dame. Each grade comes with its own insignia, all of which have the colour red in common.

Princess Leonor was given the Grand Cross grade, as historically it is the highest; as already mentioned before, the Grand Collar was only introduced in 2021.
Despite its name and origins being strongly tied with the Catholic Church, the Order can be bestowed upon military and civil servants who have demonstrated outstanding service to the Republic, as well as foreign citizens who have demonstrated particular commitment to forging relations with Portugal.
King Felipe VI has various honours form Portugal, the highest of which are three grandes of the Order of Tower and Sword, Portugal’s highest order. Queen Letizia’s highest order, however, is the same as Leonor’s.
Should she accompany her parents on any State Visits to Portugal, or take part in any Portuguese State Visit to Spain, Princess Leonor will now be allowed to display her Portuguese order, together with her Spanish ones.