TRH the Duke and Duchess of Castro and Family 2: June 2008-

[Duc_et_Pair]

I only poned down a rhetoric question. No yelling. No slurring. No infaming. No calling names. And yes, maybe Camilla probably has mistaken the Castro-branch of the so grand House Borbone delle Due Sicilie for the monegasque department of the Folies Bergère, but she is forgiven for that. I probably would have the same confusion in that family.

[Benjamin]

The Duke and Duchess of Castro have served as worthy successors to their predecessors in the Royal House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies.

As is known, numerous members and descendants of the Royal House were present at the beautification of the Blessed Maria Christina of Savoy on 25 January 2014. Quite a crowd had gathered outside the Basilica di Santa Chiara by the time the ceremony was over. At the point when the Duke and Duchess exited the church with their two daughters, it was to repeated cries of "Viva il re!" "Viva Carlo!" and "Viva Camilla!" from the Neapolitans who had gathered in the square to commemorate this important event in the Royal House.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oyfwfxgYso

It will be recalled that one of the homes of the Castros is in Paris, near the place de l'Alma.

At the moment when three suicide bombers detonated themselves near the Stade de France on the evening of 13 November 2015, Prince Carlo was in the stadium watching the match with a diplomatic delegation. He remembered, "We arrived after a ceremony at the German embassy. It was to be a festive evening. And it became a night of blood." One of the bombs went off at the entrance through which the group had earlier entered the venue.

Although everyone heard the explosions, it took a few moments for them to realize that they were in the midst of a terrorist attack. However, once the reality did sink in, Prince Carlo turned to one of his companions, General David Galtier, and offered to do anything to be of use. Along with a group of police and soldiers, Don Carlo aided in transporting by foot a group of civilians from the stadium to the Novotel, which had been identified as a safe refuge--at one point, General Galtier decided that the men in the group should form a human shield around the women and children when they were passing through certain parts of Saint-Denis.

It was not until 9:00am the next morning, thanks to General Galtier, that Princess Camilla was able to discover that her husband was alive. Prince Carlo had stayed with the people who were gotten to the Novotel overnight. Donna Camilla recalled that "my daughters were in total panic. It was a night of war."

This couple and their children have received and will probably continue to receive a hefty amount of criticism on a variety of fronts. However, for the most part, these criticisms say a great deal more about those who are delivering them than the people who are their target. To my mind, the Duke and Duchess and the two princesses simply appear as a close-knit, devoted family; after all that they have experienced together, I find it easy to conceive why the Duke of Castro wishes for his eldest daughter to be his heir.

[iceflower]

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The Duke and Duchess of Castro were among the guests at the ACM Gala Dinner as part of the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco on May 29:



** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 **

[Benjamin]

Interview with the Duke of Castro from 30 May 2016:

Intervista esclusiva al principe Carlo di Borbone delle Due Sicilie | Il Nuovo Sud

Article concerning the confirmation of the Duchess of Palermo and Duchess of Capri:

María Carolina y María Chiara de Borbón de las Dos Sicilias celebran su Confirmación en Roma

Bruno Gómez Acebo y Borbón, son of Infanta Pilar and nephew of King Juan Carlos, with his wife Barbara were among the guests.

Both Princess Maria Carolina and Princess Maria Chiara speak Italian, French and English. They also play the piano and dance ballet.

[Blog Real]

Why Bruno Gómez Acebo was invited?

[MAfan]

Originally Posted by Benjamin

Interview with the Duke of Castro from 30 May 2016:

Intervista esclusiva al principe Carlo di Borbone delle Due Sicilie | Il Nuovo Sud

I find quite interesting and, at the same time, puzzling a passage of the interview, where the Duke of Castro - in response to a question about the most recent quarrel with the "Spanish branch" - says that only he is the Head of the Royal House and Grand Master of the Constantinian Order and denies that there are other claimants.
It's clear to everyone that he considers himself as such, and many support him, but I wonder why he denies that there are other claimants while this is equally known and evident.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by Blog Real

Why Bruno Gómez Acebo was invited?

Isn't Bruno in a row with Don Luis Alfonso de Borbón about € 145.000,-- he still has to pay to his cousin? Link. Maybe he has fallen out of grace with the Spanish royal family and now, in an obstructive move, sides with Don Carlo de Borbone delle Due Sicilie?

[Cory]

Originally Posted by MAfan

I find quite interesting and, at the same time, puzzling a passage of the interview, where the Duke of Castro - in response to a question about the most recent quarrel with the "Spanish branch" - says that only he is the Head of the Royal House and Grand Master of the Constantinian Order and denies that there are other claimants.
It's clear to everyone that he considers himself as such, and many support him, but I wonder why he denies that there are other claimants while this is equally known and evident.

The Reconciliation happened in Naples seem to be fogotten.

[MAfan]

But did it really happen? I mean, yes, Prince Charles and Prince Pedro signed the Act of Reconciliation, with whom each claimant acknowledged the titles used by the other one and declared their intention to act "publicly together as a single family". IMO many nice words but no real contents settling the disputes. Nothing was said about the Headship of the Royal House and nothing was said about the Constantinian Order.
Two and half years later it's clear that they aren't "acting publicly together as a single family" and the two main issues between the families are still unresolved - and nothing has been done in this time to reach a solution.
So, I wonder whether the "Act of Reconciliation" was (and is): A) nothing but many nice words and intentions without any real and relevant meaning for the two parties; B) a sort of "attempt to dialogue", but without a continuation; C) a big misunderstanding, a document that the Duke of Castro and the Duke of Noto signed, with the former interpreting it as a renounce to his claims made by the Duke of Noto, who obviously didn't mean to do so.
So, yes, an Act of Reconciliation was signed, but at this point I doubt that any reconciliation ever existed.

[iceflower]

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Together with their lovely daughters the Duke and Duchess of Castro attended the opening ceremony of the 56th Television Festival of Monte Carlo yesterday, June 12:


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** rex gallery **

[Duc_et_Pair]

Words fail me. While there is the one resignation after the other from the "Castro branch" of the Ordine costantiniano di San Giorgio, and while the Calabria-side is making serious visits, this Castro-side just continues to swoon in vulgarity.

[iceflower]

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Like last year the Duke and Duchess of Castro and their daughters participated in the "Sail for a Cause" charity event on June 11:



** yacht-club-monaco.mc: Sail for a Cause: spirit of generosity **

[Benjamin]

The recent visit to Nola of the Duke and Duchess of Castro received much coverage in the local press.

The royal couple were joined by their two daughters, the Duchess of Calabria and the Duchess of Capri, as well as by Princess Beatrice.

Geremia Biancardi, the mayor of Nola, had invited the Royal Family to his city for the festivities.

Gigli, a Nola arriva il Principe - Ottopagine.it Napoli
I reali Borbone a Napoli e a alla Festa dei Gigli di Nola - Pupia.tv
A cena con Carlo di Borbone nella Casina Vanvitelliana sul Lago Fusaro a Bacoli - 1 di 1 - Napoli - Repubblica.it
Il principe Carlo di Borbone in visita tra tradizione, storia e cultura - InterNapoli.it
Napoli riaccoglie i Borbone: festa a Bacoli con la famiglia di Carlo, Sua Altezza Reale

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3ZYy4PNQH0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lay8uDdSCSc

[iceflower]

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The Duke and Duchess of Castro attended "Bulgari the Celebration of Magnificent Inspirations, The New High Jewellery Collection" at the Italian Embassy in Paris yesterday, July 5. The Duchess of Castro danced with another man Peter Marino.


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** gettyimages gallery **

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by Benjamin

[...] The royal couple were joined by their two daughters, the Duchess of Calabria and the Duchess of Capri, as well as by Princess Beatrice.
[...]

Better said: the self-styled, assumed, fake "Duchess of Calabria".

The one and the only real Duchess of Calabria is Doña Sofía Melgarejo y Landaluce, spouse of His Royal Highness Don Pedro de Borbón-Dos Sicilias y Orleans, The Duke of Calabria, Prince of the Two Sicilies and as such styled and recognized by all Royal Houses, like his father was also the Duke of Calabria, like his grandfather was also the Duke of Calabria, etc.

[Marengo]

I suspect Benjamin is well aware of the existance of the other duchess of Calabria. I am not sure if the titles the main line uses are less 'self-styled'. Do they have any legal foundation in Spain? Of course it isn't the young Duchess of Calabria's fault that her parents made this decision for her. It is such a pity that the duke of Castro chose to walk the present path. Let's hope he will come to his senses at some point, though I doubt the main line will ever trust the duke enough to work towards a reconciliation.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Yes, it is an official title recognized by a current kingdom and memberstate of the European Union.

For an example, in the State Bulletin of 1 October 1993 is published that "Don Carlos de Borbón-Dos Sicilias y Borbón-Parma, Duque de Calabria" is appointed President of the Naval Museum: https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1993/10/...8208-28208.pdf

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

Yes, it is an official title recognized by a current kingdom and memberstate of the European Union.

For an example, in the State Bulletin of 1 October 1993 is published that "Don Carlos de Borbón-Dos Sicilias y Borbón-Parma, Duque de Calabria" is appointed President of the Naval Museum: https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1993/10/...8208-28208.pdf

In Spain the title was recognized for the Infante D. Carlos.

Of course, D. Carlos was one of the closest friends of his cousin King Juan Carlos.

Since the death of the Infante, it has not been recognized for his son Prince D. Pedro.

[Duc_et_Pair]

We will have to wait for a Royal Decree concerning Don Pedro de Borbón-Dos Sicilias y Orléans to be appointed into something, or granted a Royal Order, or created an Infante, or something else to see if also "Duque de Calabria" is mentioned. After all the title is not Spanish, so Don Pedro does not need to make a formal petition to the King (via the Government) to use the title of his late father.

It is the same as the Dutch Court mentioning Prince Carlos Hugo de Bourbon de Parme, "Hertog van Parma en Piacenza". Also no title of the own kingdom but nevertheless used in official outings: https://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/actuee...es-jeugdorkest

[Benjamin]

This would then seem to contradict your earlier statement that "yes, it is an official title recognized by a current kingdom and memberstate of the European Union." As the title is one of pretension, this is clearly not the case. Further, it is fair to conclude that the current King of Spain is never going to create his cousin an Infante, and, further, that the close relations that existed between these two Spanish Bourbon branches will eventually be a relic of the past as the current monarchs are distancing themselves from anyone who might bring the monarchy's reputation into question--the recent tax investigations into Prince D. Pedro and his family are unlikely to help matters.

Anyway, there is a thread dedicated to the Spanish branch; this discussion could best be continued there.

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

We will have to wait for a Royal Decree concerning Don Pedro de Borbón-Dos Sicilias y Orléans to be appointed into something, or granted a Royal Order, or created an Infante, or something else to see if also "Duque de Calabria" is mentioned. After all the title is not Spanish, so Don Pedro does not need to make a formal petition to the King (via the Government) to use the title of his late father.

It is the same as the Dutch Court mentioning Prince Carlos Hugo de Bourbon de Parme, "Hertog van Parma en Piacenza". Also no title of the own kingdom but nevertheless used in official outings: https://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/actuee...es-jeugdorkest