And he's okay with that. Prince Rafael knows the duties he has with his country and people.
...The pressure isn't only on Prince Rafael (it's stronger on him, but because he's the direct heir to Throne).
Poor Prince Rafael could legitimately feel quite resentful and hard-done by now he's been thrust into the role of royal poster-boy and hope of the family. What about all the others? From the top down. Where was their sense of duty?
Prince Hernrique had EIGHT sons, plenty, one would think, to ensure the continuation of the dynasty. Not quite. Here's the list:
1. Prince Luiz Gastao, Head of the Imperial House since Henrique's death in 1981; unmarried
2. Prince Eudes, renounced his rights of succession prior to his (unequal) marriage
3. Prince Bertrand, unmarried
4. Prince Pedro, renounced his rights of succession prior to his (unequal) marriage
5. Prince Fernando, renounced his rights of succession prior to his (unequal) marriage
6. Prince
Antonio, married Princess Christine de Ligne, father of
Rafael
7. Prince Francisco, renounced his rights of succession prior to his (unequal) marriage
8. Prince Alberto, renounced his rights of succession prior to his (unequal) marriage
Apart from Antonio, not much sense of duty there it seems.
The six married sons have been successful in one regard at least; between them they have produced 25 children. However, with the death of Prince Pedro Luiz in the Air France crash, Prince Rafael is the only royal Prince from that group left standing. That's one out of 25. Taken together with his father being the only one from 8 sons who contracted an approved marriage, the Imperial House of Brazil continues the pattern of playing very slim odds indeed.