The Duke of Mecklenburg has today been granted the Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of Pedro I by Prince D. Pedro of Orléans and Braganza, head of the Imperial House of Brazil, while Duke Michael was granted the rank of Commander of the Imperial Order of Pedro I.
The Duke in turn has awarded Prince D. Pedro the Grand Cross with the Crown in Ore of the House Order of the Wendish Crown.
The Imperial Order of Pedro I was instituted by Emperor Pedro I on 16 April 1826. Through his mother Archduchess Ilona of Austria, the Duke is a descendant of the order’s founder Emperor D. Pedro I of Brazil (in Portugal, King D. Pedro IV) via his daughter and successor in Portugal, Queen D. Maria II. While Prince D. Pedro descends via his son and successor in Brazil, Emperor D. Pedro II.
Through his paternal grandmother Princess D. María de la Esperanza of the Two Sicilies, Prince D. Pedro is a descendant of Duke Adolf Friedrich II, the founder of the Strelitz line of the House of Mecklenburg, via his daughter Duchess Gustave Caroline whose great granddaughter Duchess Helene of Mecklenburg-Schwerin married Ferdinand Philippe, Prince Royal of France and Duke of Orléans.
