[17][18] Isabel's headship of the Brazilian Imperial House lasted until her death in 1921, when she is widely considered to have been succeeded by her grandson, Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza.

[17][18] Pedro Henrique was the elder son of Prince Luiz, second child of Isabel and a veteran of World War I who had died in 1920 from an illness he contracted in the trenches.

[25] As the current Head of the Vassouras Branch Bertrand also has no children and has never been married, if Bertrand dies, the leadership will pass to his nephew Prince Rafael Antônio, who is the son of his late brother Antônio João of Orléans-Braganza and who holds the legitimate title of Prince Imperial of Brazil, as heir presumptive to his uncle.

Antônio's first son, Prince Pedro Luiz, died on Air France Flight 447,[26][27] and was fourth in the line of succession when he died,[28] Antonio's second daughter, Amélia Maria, was committed to resign her dynasty rights and the Brazilian princely title upon her marriage, although this is not legally allowed by Brazil's monarchical constitution without parliamentary approval.

For others, the person who succeeded by right to Isabel Leopoldina at the head of the imperial house was her son Pedro de Alcântara, Prince of Grão-Pará, considering the instrument of resignation signed by him null and void.