Through his mother, Prince Ferdinand María was a first cousin of King Alfonso XIII, who was two years younger than him.

In 1886, when he was two years old, his aunt the Queen Regent awarded him the Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III.

On 20 October 1905, King Alfonso XIII announced the marriage between his elder sister Infanta María Teresa and Prince Ferdinand Maria.

The announcement was gazetted in the Gazette of Madrid as follows: "For the sake of My Royal Family and of the Nation, after having heard My Council of Ministers, I shall give My Royal Consent to the contract of marriage between My Most Beloved and Most Dear Sister Infanta María Teresa and My Most Beloved Cousin Prince Ferdinand Maria of Bavaria and Bourbon.

That same day, Prince Ferdinand Maria naturalised and the king granted unto him the title and prerogative of Infante of Spain, by grace.

Ferdinand and María Teresa had four children: The couple settled down in Spain and moved into the newly built Cuesta de la Vega Palace in Madrid, which was their main residence.