England and Portugal have had a Treaty of Alliance since 1373 when the English fought alongside the Portuguese Royal House of Avis at the battle of Aljubarrota against Spain. The two nations signed the Treaty of Windsor in May 1386 formally confirming the alliance which has been the cornerstone of their bilateral foreign policy for more than 600 years. The final seal on that alliance was the royal marriage in 1387 between Philippa of Lancaster, daughter of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and João I of Portugal.  Bilateral trade flourished through English warehouses in Oporto. Cod and cloth were exchanged for wine, cork, salt, and oil. And the couple’s youngest son Henrique (Prince Henry the Navigator) paved the way for Portugal’s Golden Age with his sea voyages of discovery.

Almost 300 years later Britain responded to Portugal’s request for help against threats from France by signing in June 1661 a military treaty in which Britain pledged to defend Portugal. This was sealed by another royal wedding. Charles II married the Infanta Catharine of Braganza who introduced tea to Britain, as well as bringing a dowry of two million cruzados, Tangiers and Bombay.

In the 18th and 19th centuries Portugal and Britain continued to support each other. In 1700 France declared war on Britain and asked Portugal to close her ports to British ships. Portugal’s response was to join Britain and the Netherlands in May 1703 in a ‘Grand Alliance’ against the French and Spanish Bourbon dynasty, as requested by Britain’s emissary, John Methuen. She also signed a second, bilateral, commercial treaty, the Methuen Treaty, in December 1703, which saw Portuguese wines flow into England. In 1807 when Napoleon marched into Lisbon and the royal family fled to Brazil, Portugal invoked the Treaty of Windsor of 1386. British Generals, including Beresford and Wellington, came to defend Portugal and Napoleon was defeated 3 years later. As a result, Britain was allowed to trade directly with Brazil.

In the 21st century the close links continue. Both countries acceded to the EU (the UK in 1973 and Portugal in 1986) and Governmental contacts are frequent at political and official levels as we work together on a wide range of issues. The Queen has paid two State Visits to Portugal. President Jorge Sampaio last visited the UK, as a Guest of Government, in February 2002. Recent bilateral Prime Ministerial visits include José Manuel Barroso to London in March 2003, Tony Blair to Lisbon in March 2006, José Sócrates to London in July 2007, and Gordon Brown to Lisbon in October and December 2007, for European Councils under the Portuguese EU Presidency. This included the signing of the Lisbon EU Treaty in Lisbon in December 2007.