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 HRH 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 married Chantal, of the Counts of Chevron-Villette. From this marriage the couple had three children:
– HRH Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies (born 1950)
– HRH Princess Anna of Bourbon Two Sicilies (born 1957)
– HRH Prince Carlo of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria and Heir Apparent (born 1963)
In March 2008, HRH Prince Ferdinando died and was succeeded by his only son, HRH Prince Carlo of Bourbon Two Siclies, as Duke of Castro and Head of the Royal House.