Son of the last king of Italy, Victor Emmanuel spent his life in exile after his family was expelled from the Italian peninsula due to his grandfather’s collaboration with the fascist regime.
“His Royal Highness, Victor Emmanuel, Duke of Savoy and Prince of Naples died peacefully in Geneva surrounded by his family.” It was through this brief press release published on Saturday by the royal house of Savoy that the death of the crown prince of Italy was announced, then confirmed to AFP.
Born on February 12, 1937 in Naples, Victor Emmanuel was the head of the House of Savoy which ruled unified Italy from 1861 to 1946.
The prince, son of Umberto II and last king of Italy, died at the age of 86 after a long exile. His father only held the throne from May to June 1946.
Victor Emmanuel left Italy at the age of 9, banished with all male descendants of the royal house by the Constitution of 1946 to sanction the collaboration of his grandfather, Victor Emmanuel III, with the fascist regime and the signing of racial laws.
The crown prince was only able to return to the Italian peninsula in December 2002, after the lifting of the exile voted by the Italian Parliament. To obtain it, he had to swear loyalty to the Republic, a gesture he had long refused.
The place and date of the prince’s funeral will be announced later.