Manuel Filiberto of Savoy, grandson of the last King of Italy, has presented himself as head of the family and Grand Master of the Dynastic Order of the Royal House of Savoy following the recent death of his father Victor Emmanuel. And just a few months ago he announced that he would hand over these offices to his eldest daughter Victoria, in a country without a crown that has not recognized titles of nobility or given them relevance since 1946, when citizens voted in a referendum. chose the republic as a form of government. The heir, a special and controversial figure in the social panorama of the transalpine country, has taken back his words and recalled that he and his first-born daughter, nicknamed “the influencer princess”, are the contenders for the hypothetical throne in the Switzerland and student. In Paris he has to wait for his seat.
Manuel Filiberto de Saboya (51 years old, Geneva) announced last June that he intended to pass the baton as head of the family to his daughter, explaining that the young woman, 20 years old, was very happy with the decision and herself already prepared to play the role of heir. But now, in an interview with the newspaper La Repubblica, in which she recalled her father's return from exile to Italy in 2003, she has suggested that her words at the time had been misunderstood and that her daughter was too young to take first place in the newspaper's line of succession. “I was misunderstood. Victoria studies and has to learn little by little because she is by my side, as I was with my father. I believe that young people should be given space when they have reached the right maturity. So when the time comes, when I'm too old and tired to continue, I will give the place to her,” he explained.
More information
Victoria de Savoy, this February 13th, at the Michael Kors show at New York Fashion Week. Jamie McCarthy (Getty Images for Michael Kors)
Victor Emmanuel of Savoy, who died on February 3 in Geneva, Switzerland at the age of 86, abolished the Salic law that had excluded women from the succession to the throne for centuries in 2019, when his granddaughter Victoria turned 18. “He gave him a great gift. It was his decision, he considered that in more modern times it was necessary to adapt the law in accordance with the Lisbon Treaty of 2009, which requires the countries of the European Union to achieve gender equality and therefore equal rights between men and women. Women. Given what is happening in other ruling houses, it was right to ensure the succession to the eldest daughter of our family,” recalled Manuel Filiberto in the same interview. In it, he also celebrated that the majority of European monarchies in the coming years will be led by women, recognizing: “We are not kings and we will not have a queen, but we are a lineage with a thousand-year history, so.” It is fair that the older son, regardless of gender, is the head of the family.”
Marina Doria, accompanied by her son, at the funeral of her husband, Victor Emmanuel of Savoy, in Turin, Italy, on February 10. Vittorio Zunino Celotto (Getty Images)
The Savoyards have been fighting for the throne of Italy with their cousins from the Savoy-Aosta branch for decades, although it no longer exists and is fictional. Everything arose from the marriage in 1971 of Víctor Manuel de Saboya, father of Manuel Filiberto, to Marina Doria, of middle-class and plebeian descent, world champion in water skiing. The couple married first in a civil ceremony in Las Vegas and later in a religious ceremony in Tehran. The last king of Italy, Umberto II, father of the groom, did not consent to the wedding and was not present at any of the celebrations. The Savoy-Aostatians complain that this violated one of the basic rules by which the royal family was governed, namely the consent of the king or head of the family to the marriage of the heirs. They therefore see themselves as legitimate successors.
Aimon of Savoy-Aosta and his wife, Princess Olga of Greece, in September 2023 during Milan Fashion Week. Mondadori Portfolio (Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Im)
At the wedding of King Felipe and Queen Letizia in May 2004, Victor Emmanuel of Savoy and Amadeo of Savoy-Aosta even clashed. However, his sons Manuel Filiberto and Prince Aimón seem to have achieved a certain pacification. Last weekend, Aimón de Savoy-Aosta attended his uncle's funeral in Turin with his wife, Princess Olga of Greece, whom he met at the wedding of the Infanta Elena and Jaime de Marichalar, and maintained a conciliatory tone towards his cousin Manuel Filiberto at explained that both had “a very good relationship”. “With the new generations at the helm of both houses, a way will be found to leave the controversies behind and get to work together,” he assured.
Manuel Filiberto is a very media personality, popular for his eccentricities and at times controversial in Italy. From exile to aristocrat, to culinary entrepreneur, showman, designer, patron, talk show host, jury of television competitions, regular guest on television, participant, singer or presenter and much more. He is currently the owner of several lower league football clubs and is using all possible facets to regain the appreciation of Italians. He married French actress Clotilde Marie Pascale Courau in 2003 in a lavish ceremony attended by 1,200 guests, including Prince Albert II of Monaco, the Duke and Duchess of Castro, and designers Pierre Cardin and Valentino Garavani. The couple has two daughters, Victoria de Saboya, 20 years old, and Luisa de Saboya, 17. The aristocrat grew up in exile and was able to return to his country in 2002 at the age of 30 when the law banning entry was lifted. in the transalpine country to the male descendants of the last king.
Manuel Filiberto de Saboya, during his time on the Italian television show “Notti Sul Ghiaccio,” in 2015. Elisabetta A. Villa (Getty Images)