Head of the Imperial House of Brazil

In 1908, Pedro de Alcântara, then Prince Imperial of Brazil in exile, wanted to marry Countess Elisabeth Dobržensky de Dobrženicz (1875–1951), whose family had belonged to the nobility of the kingdom of Bohemia. The countess did not, however, belong to a reigning or formerly reigning dynasty, as both Orléans and Braganza traditions expected of brides. As Prince Pedro wanted to marry with his mother's blessing, he renounced his rights to the throne of Brazil at Cannes on 30 October 1908. If the 1908 renunciation of Pedro de Alcântara was valid, his brother Luiz (and eventually, Pedro Henrique) became next in the line of succession after their mother. 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. 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.

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 João, Rafael's father, had 4 children: Prince Pedro Luiz, Amélia Maria, Rafael Antônio and Maria Gabriela. Antônio's first son, Prince Pedro Luiz, died on Air France Flight 447, and was fourth in the line of succession when he died, 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. Antonio's last daughter, Maria Gabriela, is third in line to the throne and head the Imperial House.

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. After the death of Pedro de Alcântara (1940), his son Pedro Gastão (until 2007) and his grandson Pedro Carlos of Orleans-Braganza would have risen successively.