Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro

Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro,
Head of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
Pretendence 20 March 2008 – present
Predecessor Prince Ferdinand, Duke of Castro
Spouse Camilla Crociani
Issue
Princess Maria-Carolina
Princess Maria Chiara
Full name
Italian: Carlo Maria Bernardo Gennaro
House House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
Father Prince Ferdinand, Duke of Castro
Mother Chantal de Chevron-Villette
Born 24 February 1963 (1963-02-24) (age 49)
Saint-Raphaël, France
Religion Roman Catholic
Two Sicilies Royal Family

HRH Princess Maria del Carmen

Extended family

Prince Carlo of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro (born 24 February 1963) is one of two claimants to the headship of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies.

Styles of
HRH Prince Carlo of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro,
Reference style His Royal Highness
Spoken style Your Royal Highness
Alternative style Sir

Contents

Early life and education

Carlo was born at Saint-Raphaël, Var, France, the only son of Ferdinand, Duke of Castro, and his wife, Chantal de Chevron-Villette.[1] He was baptised in France with the names Charles Marie Bernarde Gennaro. He generally uses the Italian form of his name Carlo.

Carlo was educated firstly at the Institute of the Marist Fathers at Toulon, France. He went on to study at a namesake of the Collège Stanislas de Paris located in Nice, France. After studying at an international university in Paris, he spent three years working for a public relations firm in Manhattan. He is fluent in Italian, French and English.

Headship of the House of Bourbon Two Sicilies

In 2008, Carlo succeeded his father as claimant to the headship of the House of the Two Sicilies. As head of the house, he uses the title Duke of Castro.

Carlo's supporters state that since his grandfather's brother Infante Carlos renounced his rights and those of his successors to succession to the throne of the Two Sicilies in 1900, the headship of the house passed to Carlo's grandfather Ranieri, Duke of Castro, then to Carlo's father Ferdinand, Duke of Castro, and most recently to Carlo.[2][3] Infante Carlos's claims to be the Duke of Calabria and head of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies are recognized by the Spanish king Juan Carlos of Spain (since they are cousins), while the other royal families (and all others Bourbon-Two Sicilies members) recognize the Castro claim.[4]

Carlo claims the disputed Grand Mastership of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, the Order of Saint Ferdinand and Merit, the Order of St. Januarius, the Order of Saint George and Reunion, and the Royal Order of Francis I.

Orders and decorations

Carlo has been decorated with a number of dynastic and state honours.[5] They include:

In October 2011, the Duke of Castro was granted the Freedom of the City of London.[7]

Marriage and issue

Carlo is married to Camilla Crociani.[8]

They have two children:[8]

Royal Godfather

On 14 April 2011, the Duke and Duchess of Castro attended the joint christening of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark's twin children, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine at the chapel of the Church of Holmen in Copenhagen, Denmark. Carlo is one of six godparents to Princess Josephine. The Duke of Castro is also a godfather of Prince Gaston of Orléans.

Titles from birth

Ancestry

Footnotes

  1. ^ Worldroots
  2. ^ (Disputed) Headship of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies In Defense of (Real) History: Who is the Head of the Royal House of Bourbon of the Two Sicilies? by Luigi Mendola.
  3. ^ [1] The Two Sicilies Succession.
  4. ^ The Succession to the Headship of the The Two Sicilies Royal House
  5. ^ [2]
  6. ^ "Le Onorificenze" (in Italian). Website: Presidenza Della Repubblica. Office of the President of the Italian Republic. 1 May 2011. http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/DettaglioOnorificenze.aspx?decorato=11626. Retrieved 5 June 2011. "BORBONE DELLE DUE SICILIE S.A.R. il Principe Carlo, Cavaliere di Gran Croce Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana, Data del conferimento: 29 July 1996. English Translation: Borbon of the Two Sicilies, H.R.H The Prince Carlo, Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, Date conferred: 29 July 1996." 
  7. ^ Independent Catholic News
  8. ^ a b Boubon-Two Sicilies Royal Family

External links

Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro
Cadet branch of the House of Bourbon
Born: 24 February 1963
Italian nobility
Preceded by
Prince Ferdinand		 Duke of Castro
20 March 2008 – present		 Incumbent
Heir:
Prince Antoine
Titles in pretence
Preceded by
Ferdinand III		 — TITULAR —
King of the Two Sicilies
(Castro claimant)
2008 – present
Reason for succession failure:
Italian Unification under the House of Savoy		 Incumbent
Heir:
Prince Antoine of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
Preceded by
Prince Pedro,
Duke of Noto		 Line of succession to the
throne of the Two Sicilies (Calabria line)
2nd position		 Succeeded by
Prince Antoine of
Bourbon-Two Sicilies
Preceded by
Pedro de Borbon-dos
Sicilias y Landaluce		 Line of succession to
the French throne (Legitimist)
c. 26th position		 Succeeded by
Adrian de Bourbon