Brief History

The Illustrious Royal Order of St Januarius, the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George and the Royal Order of Francis I are ancient and internationally recognised dynastic Orders of Knighthood. The Constantinian Order is actively involved in the defence and promotion of the Roman Catholic religion, and together with the multi-faith Royal Order of Francis I, undertakes spiritual, humanitarian, hospitaller and charitable initiatives across Great Britain and its dependant territories, Ireland and the world.

His Royal Highness Prince Carlo of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, is the current Grand Master of the Order and Head of the Royal House of Bourbon Two Sicilies. The Grand Master is supported by a Royal Deputation within the Order’s Grand Magistry in Rome. The Grand Prior of the Constantinian Order is His Eminence Renato Raffaele, Cardinal Martino, and His Eminence Albert, Cardinal Vanhoye, is the Ecclesiastical Counsellor and Grand Prior Emeritus to the Royal House.

The Prior of the British and Irish Delegation is His Eminence Cormac, Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor, Archbishop Emeritius of Westminster, and the Order's Chief Chaplain in Ireland is His Eminence Desmond, Cardinal Connell, Archbishop Emeritus of Dublin.

The Delegate of the British and Irish Delegation for the current statutory three year period of 2009-2012 is HE Mr Anthony Bailey who, together with the Dublin based Vice-Delegate Professor Richard Conroy, direct the day-to-day activities and obligations of its membership.

As part of this international network, the Delegation, which recently celebrated its 210th anniversary, supports and participates in many charitable, humanitarian and inter-faith initiatives across the British Isles.

As Orders of Knighthood, the Order of St Januarius, the Constantinian Order or the Royal Order of Francis I are dynastic orders pertaining to the Royal House of Bourbon Two Sicilies and are not Orders pertaining to the Holy See or the Italian Republic. Nevertheless, the Italian Republic, together with many other governments and dynasties across the world, fully recognises the Order and its activities by Presidential or other decrees. The Constantinian Order also maintains Consultative Status of the Economic and Social Council at the United Nations in New York, Geneva and Vienna. Today knights and dames of the three Orders can be found across the globe and especially so throughout Italy, the rest of Europe, North and South America as well as in Asia.

Headquartered within the Grand Magistry in Rome and Naples, the Illustrious Royal Order of St Januarius, the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George and the Royal Order of Francis I, whilst deeply rooted in the past, are actively engaged in the challenges of modern society and fully prepared for what the future may hold.