His childless uncle, Bertrand of Orléans-Braganza, is one of the two current claimants to the former Brazilian crown, having Pedro's father, Antônio, as his immediate successor. As such, some Brazilian monarchists expected Pedro Luiz to eventually become the pretender to the abolished throne. Instead, his younger brother, Rafael, took his place in the line of succession upon legal declaration of Pedro Luiz' death in the crash of Air France Flight 447.
