She was the third daughter of Emperor Dom Pedro I and his first wife Archduchess Leopoldina of Austria. Through her father, she was a member of the Brazilian branch of the House of Braganza, which was an illegitimate branch of the Capetian dynasty. She was thus a granddaughter of João VI. Through her mother, she was a niece of Napoleon and a first cousin of Franz Joseph I of Austria. As the daughter of a member of the ruling Portuguese royal house, Paula was referred to by the honorific "Dona" (Lady) from birth.