HRH Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, Grand Master and Head of the Royal House was in Naples with HRH Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Grand Prefect of the Constantinian Order, to inaugurate the celebrations in honor of King Ferdinand II, 160 years after his death. Two days of institutional, cultural and solidarity events have strengthened the link between the Royal House of Bourbon Two Sicilies and Naples and its historic role.
On Friday, May 31st, a solemn liturgical celebration in memory of King Ferdinand II was celebrated at the Royal Papal Basilica of San Francesco di Paola, presided by HE Andrea Muggione, Prior of the Campania Delegation of the Constantinian Order. During the ceremony, attended by HRH the Grand Master, HRH the Grand Prefect, HE Prince Ruspoli, Grand Chancellor, HE Gian Carlo dei Principi Rocco di Torrepadula, Grand Treasurer, the investiture of approximately 50 illustrious personalities in the Constantinian Sacred Military Order of St. George and the Royal Order of Francis I took place. The new knights and dames, appointed motu proprio by HRH the Duke of Castro, Head of the Royal House, are excellences of our country.
Ambassadors Lambertini, Mancini and Vattani, the vice-president of the Court of Accounts, Arturo Martucci di Scarfizzi, vice-president emeritus of the Superior Council of the Judiciary, Professor Michele Vietti, were all present at the church, as active part of the ceremony. During the liturgy a large number of authorities, including the general of the board of directors, Salvatore Farina and the best representatives of the civil society and of Campania were admitted in the Order. At the end of the Eucharistic celebration, the large group of participants in the solemn liturgy moved to Palazzo Salerno for a toast, which was also attended by a large number of delegates from all Italian regions. Then a private dinner followed and was organized by Marquise Federica de Gregorio Cattaneo, Delegate of the Order for Naples.
On Saturday, June 1st, HRH the Duke of Castro attended the scuba diving of some blind children of the “Paolo Colosimo” Institute of Naples. The aim of this initiative, the SeaRen project, is to give children with visual and motor impairments the opportunity to dive at sea. The morning was devoted to the unique scenario of the archaeological complex of Baia. The initiative has received moral support from the Constantinian Order and the Royal House since last June; the Constantinian Order, in fact, donated all the necessary equipment (wetsuits and fins) for diving and it was also an opportunity to assist to the operations carried out by young people engaged in a remarkable and autonomous growth path.