Prince Ferdinando Becomes Duke of Castro and Head of the Dynasty
Prince Ranieri, Duke of Castro, died on 13 January 1973 at his home, Saint-Sauver Castle. Some years earlier in 1966, Prince Ranieri had passed all his functions as Grand Master of the dynastic orders of the Royal House to his son His Late Royal Highness Prince Ferdinando, (de jure, Ferdinando IV), Duke of Castro and Head of the Royal Family of the Bourbon of the Two Sicilies.

His Late Royal Highness was born in Podzamcze, Poland, on 28 March 1926 and was the first member of the Royal Family to serve in the French Armed Forces. In 1949 Prince Ferdinando IV married Chantal, of the Counts of Chevron-Villette. From this marriage Their Late Royal Highnesses had three children. HRH Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies (born 1950), HRH Princess Anna of Bourbon Two Sicilies (born 1957) and HRH Prince Carlo of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Current Duke of Castro (born 1963).