Charles d’Allery de Bourbon was a French aristocrat and Papal Chamberlain of the Sword and Cape. He was a direct descendant of a junior branch of the French royal house and entitled by virtue of this descent to the title of prince; he was also Comte d’Allery and subsequently received the title of Duc d’Allery de Bourbon. Today there is a passage Charles d’Allery in Paris which was named for one of his ancestors, a noted inventor.

Prince Charles followed the profession of mining engineer and was also an early supporter of what today is described as alternative medicine. In 1953 he became an Honorary President of the Experimental Centre of Thaumatologists of Marseille and in 1954 contributed a preface to a work on Thaumatology by the Centre’s founder Roger Caro, the noted esotericist and bishop from whom the present Prince-Abbot of San Luigi is in succession.

During the 1930s, Prince Charles was one of those who worked to restore the reputation and standing of the Order of the Crown of Thorns under Prince-Abbot Edmond I after a period of some conflict following the death of Prince-Abbot Joseph III. This work bore fruit with several hundred new members being introduced, including several members of the European Royal Houses.

The Letters Patent reproduced below were issued by Prince-Abbot Edmond I on 7 October 1934 and appoint Prince Charles to the highest rank of Grand Cross with Collar in the Order of the Lion and the Black Cross, which had been founded in 1883 and revived by Prince-Abbot Edmond I in 1929.