Despite his family ties, Francisco never had the title of Infante of Spain because his parents' marriage was unequal and did not receive approval from Queen Isabella II.

His brother Enrique refused to accept the 30,000 pesetas that the Duke of Montepensier offered to pay as compensation for his act.

Francisco de Paula was known at the time to claim for himself the erstwhile French throne, after the death in 1883 of the pretender Henri, Count of Chambord.

His claim caused numerous headaches for the queen regent, Maria Christina, which resulted in two months of imprisonment for Francisco de Paula at Santoña in 1898.

They had three children: After the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic, Francisco de Paula was able to stay in Spain, and he continued to reside in Madrid.