After the fall of the monarchy in 1910 and the death of King Manuel II, the Duke of Loulé was acclaimed by his supporters as head of the Portuguese Royal house.

On December 5, 1827, Nuno of Loulé married Infanta Ana de Jesus Maria of Braganza, youngest daughter of King John VI of Portugal.

Therefore, the claim of the current duke to the defunct throne, as the infanta's dynastic representative, has been contrasted with that of Duarte Pio of Braganza, great-grandson and heir of Miguel I.

The Dukes of Loulé have not, in the past, pressed any claim to the throne publicly, whereas the Portuguese government and media have accorded some indications of recognition to the claimant Duarte Pio as the dynasty's royal representative since the death of the controversial claimant Maria Pia of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Braganza in 1995.

[3] Since the Miguelist line has been disinherited by the Portuguese Cortes law of 1834,[4] the Dukes of Loulé as being the highest legitimate senior members of the Braganza family have claimed the throne of Portugal.