Vittorio Emanuele was the son of the last Italian king Umberto II. In 1946 he moved to Switzerland with his family. He has now died in Geneva at the age of 86.
Vittorio Emmanuele in Italy in 2007.
Imago/Piovanotto Marco/Abaca
Vittorio Emanuele was officially the last crown prince of Italy and for a long time the head of the house. However, he lost the title in 2006 in a dispute with his cousin Prince Amedeo. Today it is presided over by Aimone of Savoy and Aosta.
Father was the last king
During the High Middle Ages, the House of Savoy ruled over Savoy, located in parts of modern-day Italy, France and modern-day Switzerland, and Piedmont in northern Italy. The house housed the kings of Italy between 1861 and 1946.
Vittorio Emanuele’s father Umberto II became King of Italy on May 10, 1946. About a month later, the monarchy was abolished in a referendum. King Umberto II and his family had to leave the country and moved to Switzerland – hence the name “May King”. Officially, Vittorio Emanuele, who has now died, was only crown prince for a month. He spent most of his life outside Italy.
In the past, Vittorio Emanuele has caused a stir several times with scandals. In 1978 there was a dispute in the marina on an island off Corsica. Shots are said to have been fired from Vittorio Emanuele’s rifle. A German tourist was hit and later died. Another time, the prevented crown prince was investigated for exploiting prostitutes and corruption. Most recently, he sued the Italian state to obtain the return of the house’s jewels.