The ceremony promoted by the Western Sicily Delegation of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George took place on Sunday, September 27, 2026, in Palermo, as previously announced, on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the naming of the square, the boulevard, and the gardens in front of the Chinese Palace in memory of the Bourbon Sovereigns.
In Piazza Carlo III di Borbone, in the presence of the Delegate for Western Sicily, the Noble Prof. Salvatore Bordonali, Knight Grand Cross of Justice, the Mayor of Palermo, Prof. Roberto Lagalla, and Knights, Dames, Postulants, and guests, a commemorative wreath was laid next to the plaque dedicated to Charles III of Bourbon. The gesture expressed homage to the memory of the Royal House and to the history of the places linked to the Bourbon presence in Sicily.
The honor guard composed of four Knights of the Western Sicily Delegation contributed to the solemnity of the commemorative ceremony, accompanying the laying of the wreath and remaining next to the plaque during the commemoration.
The initiative recalled the day of September 27, 2021, when the Grand Master of the Constantinian Order, HRH Prince Pedro of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria, Count of Caserta, Head of the Royal House of the Two Sicilies, visited the Chinese Palace together with the Royal Family to pay homage to the memory of the Sovereigns and participate in the naming ceremony of the sites.
On that occasion, Piazza Carlo III di Borbone, Viale Ferdinandeo, and the Regina Maria Carolina Gardens were named, restoring to the city’s memory a significant chapter of the history of the Bourbon presence in Palermo.
The mission of the Order and service to others
The Delegation of Western Sicily is committed to preserving tradition with an eye toward the present.
A significant part of the Delegate’s speech concerned the nature and mission of the Constantinian Order. The Delegate recalled that the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George traces its origins to the ancient chivalric traditions of Christendom and that HRH Prince Pedro is its Grand Master by dynastic succession, reiterating the non-political character of this equestrian-religious institution.
Addressing the Mayor of Palermo, Bordonali illustrated some of the charitable activities carried out by the Delegation, citing in particular the support for the city’s Boccone del Povero Institute and the collections of donations destined for associations engaged in assisting immigrants.
“Support for our needy brothers at the Boccone del Povero constitutes a decade-long commitment,” he emphasized. “It is our way of honoring the values of Christian charity through daily deeds.”
Collaboration with city institutions
In concluding his speech, Bordonali reiterated the Delegation’s willingness to collaborate with city institutions to address the social and cultural challenges affecting Palermo, confirming the desire to continue a relationship based on cooperation and service to the community. The ceremony concluded with thanks to the Mayor, the authorities, and all those present, as well as to the Knights and Dames of the Delegation who contributed to the success of the commemorative initiative.
