Ferdinand was born in Podzamcze, the son of Prince Ranieri, Duke of Castro, and his wife Countess Maria Carolina Zamoyska.
He lived most of his life in France and was the first member of the Two Sicilian royal family to serve in the French Armed Forces.
Ferdinand succeeded as head of the House of the Bourbon-Two Sicilies on his father's death in 1973, having carried out the functions associated with the headship of the family since 1966.
[2] Ferdinand was married in Giez on 23 July 1949 to Chantal de Chevron-Villette (1925–2005), and they had three children: As the marriage was initially considered morganatic, Ferdinand’s children were considered ineligible for the throne of Two-Scillies.
Following his father's assumption as head of the house, however, he retroactively declared Ferdinand's marriage dynastic and his children eligible for the throne.