Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia Visits the Royal Treasury Museum

14. Nov 2025.
Ambassador Ana Ilić met with the Museum’s Director, José Alberto Ribeiro, who provided her with a detailed overview of the permanent exhibition and the importance of this institution.

The Royal Treasury Museum preserves in its permanent exhibition the Takovo Order of the Royal Order with Grand Cross, sent by King Milan I Obrenović to King Luís I of Portugal in 1882.

In March 1882, the Principality of Serbia was proclaimed a kingdom.

In a letter dated 10 March 1882, King Milan informed King Luís I of Portugal of Serbia’s new status and expressed his hope that relations between their monarchies would always be marked by “lasting friendship.”

Shortly thereafter, King Milan sent King Luís I the Takovo Order of the Royal Order with Grand Cross, one of the highest Serbian decorations of that time.

To convey his response, King Luís I took an exceptional step by sending a distinguished diplomat, Fausto de Queirós Guedes, the 2nd Viscount of Valmor, all the way to Belgrade. This was a rare gesture of courtesy for the era, considering the distance between Portugal and Serbia. The envoy carried the letters of King Luís I along with Portuguese decorations — the Order of Christ and the Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz.

Deeply moved, King Milan replied on 14 November 1882 with words of gratitude:

“Sire, my brother… Deeply touched by this testimony of friendship, I wish to express to Your Majesty my sincere gratitude, assuring you of the great value I attach to this honour.”

With the agreement of both states, the year 1882 is considered the year of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Serbia and Portugal.