First Anniversary of the Reign of Prince Antoine V: The Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia Announces International Expansion of the Royalist Society

Chancellery Communiqué, Paris, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the reign of His Royal Highness Prince Antoine V, Ninth Sovereign of Araucania and Patagonia - 12 May 2026

On this 12 May 2026, a date which also marks the birthday of the Founding Monarch, Orélie‐Antoine I, the Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia pays tribute to His Royal Highness Prince Antoine V, whose reign today enters its second year.

This day of high symbolic significance is marked by the announcement of the creation of five international sections of the Royalist Society of the Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia, placed under the High Patronage of the Sovereign.

Elected unanimously by the Council of Regency, Prince Antoine V acceded to the Throne on 12 May 2025, in accordance with the 1860 Constitution and its 2016 Additional Act. On this day of commemoration, the Royal Councillors reaffirm their unwavering loyalty to the Sovereign and the honour that guides them in the service of the Crown.

On 22 November 2025, in the Principality of Monaco, the Royal Court officially presented the ninth Sovereign with the Steel Crown, the foremost insignia of the Monarchy in exile. This ceremony, imbued with dignity and tradition, was broadcast by Monaco National Television, reminding all of the historical continuity of the Kingdom.

At the beginning of 2026, faithful to the commitments proclaimed upon his accession to the Throne, Prince Antoine V undertook his first royal visit to Wallmapu, the ancestral land of the Mapuche people.
It was the first visit of a Sovereign of Araucania and Patagonia since that of Prince Philippe I in 1993, marking a historic moment of reaffirmation between the Kingdom and its land of origin.

This journey, entitled "Reconnection and Return", led the Sovereign from the north to the south of Chile and into the heart of Wallmapu, meeting ancestral authorities, communities, and Mapuche representatives. Prince Antoine V deepened his understanding of the historical concerns of the Mapuche people and immersed himself in their culture, spirituality, and millennia‐old identity.

In Perquenco, capital of the Kingdom in exile, the Sovereign distinguished Daniel Hidalgo Veloso, elevated to the rank of Knight of the Royal, Civil and Military Order of the Steel Crown, the Kingdom's first order founded in 1869.
This distinction reflects the Kingdom's recognition of those who work with loyalty and constancy in the service of the Crown and the Mapuche people.

Throughout this journey, from Santiago to Frutillar, several ancestral authorities and community leaders were honoured with royal distinctions, demonstrating the Sovereign's desire to renew a deep and lasting dialogue.

On 7 June 2026, a gala luncheon in Paris will mark this stage of the reign. Among the distinguished guests will be the Mapuche poet Dame Ximena Gautier Greve de Castellví, nominated in 2024 for the Chilean National Poetry Prize, who will give a reading of her poem "Mapuche Apology".
On this occasion, Prince Antoine V will receive the Grand Collar of the Order of the Steel Crown, the supreme distinction reserved for the Sovereigns of the Kingdom, presented by H.E. the Duchess of Neuquén, Keeper of the Seals of the Kingdom.

A moment of reflection will also mark this commemorative weekend: the visit of Prince Antoine V and members of the Royal Court to Montparnasse Cemetery, in tribute to his predecessor, Prince Antoine II, whose memory remains a guiding reference for the Royal House.

This 12 May also marks one year since the founding of the Royalist Society of the Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia (K.A.P.R.S.), a patriotic organisation established to support the Araucanian‐Patagonian Monarchy in exile and the Sovereign of the Royal House.
The international headquarters of the Society is located in the historic city of Bath, in the United Kingdom, and its international offices are established in Chile, Greece, the United States, and Spain.

Statement by His Royal Highness Prince Antoine V :
"One year has already passed since the opening of my reign, and the promise made to the Mapuche people has been fulfilled: at the beginning of 2026, my journey to Wallmapu sealed the long‐awaited reconnection between the Kingdom and its land of origin.
This first anniversary is not merely a milestone, but the momentum of a deeper movement: that of a Kingdom moving forward, of new alliances being forged and others being prepared, carried by renewed confidence.
Everywhere, projects are emerging, built hand in hand with communities, traditional authorities, and local actors, in a spirit of respect, cooperation, and truth.
May the year ahead be one of active unity, shared dignity, and the fulfilment of the commitments made, so that our Kingdom may continue to grow with strength, fidelity, and hope."

www.araucanie-patagonie.org

Domaine des Hauts de Vaugrenier
06270 Villeneuve-Loubet France

Established on November 17, 1860, the Kingdom is a historic constitutional monarchy aimed at ensuring justice and fundamental rights for the Mapuche people. H.R.H. Prince Antoine V currently ensures the continuity of this sovereign mission.

This release was published on openPR.