Death and Funeral of Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy, Prince of Naples, Feb 2024

[Prinsara]

No word on the cause of death? As it’s not an entirely unexpected one, you’d think someone might say.

 

[Benjamin]

Between 2005-2007, the two younger sisters of Prince Vittorio Emanuele (Princess Maria Gabriella and Princess Maria Beatrice), as well as King Simeon II of Bulgaria and Landgrave Moritz of Hesse wrote letters that were published at the time. All of them stated that when they had signed a document in 1983 regarding Vittorio Emanuele's position after King Umberto's death did not mean that they recognized that Vittorio Emanuele had succeeded his father the King in a dynastic sense. I have the texts and photos of the letters if anyone wants them.

I have no idea if Maria Gabriella and Maria Beatrice were especially close to Vittorio Emanuele in these past years.

 

[Marengo]

Out of curiosity: what did the document say about VE's position? Or did they only write in their letter what it did not say?

 

[Tatiana Maria]

I have the texts and photos of the letters if anyone wants them.

Yes, please, could you post them?

By the way, there is also a thread for dynastic discussions:

Savoy and Savoy-Aosta: Restoration, Succession, Heirs and Conflicts 2: 2022 -

 

[Benjamin]

Out of curiosity: what did the document say about VE's position? Or did they only write in their letter what it did not say?

On 5 December 1983 at Cascais, the widowed Queen Marie-José of Italy as well as her daughters Princess Maria Pia, Princess Maria Gabriella, and Princess Maria Beatrice all signed a statement purporting to recognise their son/brother Vittorio Emanuele as Head of the Royal House of Savoy. The statement was co-signed by the three executors of the late king's will. It was filed at Lausanne on 7 December 1983. The English translation of the statement read as follows:

The undersigned heirs of H.M. the King, Umberto II, recognize that Prince Vittorio-Emanuele, as Head of the House of Savoy, is Grand Master of the Most Holy Order of the Annunciation and the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, and that he is the keeper of the Great Collars of the Order aforementioned.
Cascais, 5 December 1983
Marie José
Maria Pia of Savoy
Maria Gabriella of Savoy
Maria Beatrice of Savoy

Simeon of Saxe-Coburg
Moritz of Hesse
Guibert d'Udekem
Lausanne, 7 Dec. 1983

The later letters of the sisters and cousins (who were executors of King Umberto's will) state that they were not recognizing Vittorio Emanuele as Head of House Savoy, and that they did not have the ability to do so anyway. Clearly, the statement was worded in such a way as that they did recognize him as the Head of the House, but once the split happened in 2006, then they revised their position.

 

[Marengo]

Thanks for the explanation Benjamin and attached note. But I still have trouble following it

- In 1983 they signed a paper where it says that they recognise VE as head of the house.
- 20 years later [after Q. Marie José died] they write a letter where they claim not to have signed such thing?

The statement from 1983 seems clear: they say that their brother is the head of the house of Savoy. Do you know what do they claim they signed in 1983 if not exactly that? They feel that the statement was falsified?

 

[Benjamin]

Thanks for the explanation Benjamin and attached note. But I still have trouble following it

- In 1983 they signed a paper where it says that they recognise VE as head of the house.
- 20 years later [after Q. Marie José died] they write a letter where they claim not to have signed such thing?

The statement from 1983 seems clear: they say that their brother is the head of the house of Savoy. Do you know what do they claim they signed in 1983 if not exactly that? They feel that the statement was falsified?

Dear Marengo,

It seems more of a case that they (the two younger sisters and the cousins) wanted to distance themselves from VE due to his conduct and also, possibly, because they felt they did not actually have the authority to factually state that VE was his father's dynastic heir, especially given the correspondence in the 1960s that had gone back and forth between Umberto and VE on the subject. Please find the letters attached and their text below.


The letter of Maria Gabriella from 2005:

Dear ------,
(Personal communications)
As for my Father's last will and testament, I can confirm that my sisters and I made a declaration in Vittorio's favour in regard to the dynastic orders, to prevent his feeling entirely excluded from the moral heritage of our House as resulted from the King's dispositions. We put our signatures to this declaration on 5 December 1983, but, on further consideration, neither we, nor our mother, nor the executors of the will, had the power to do so.
Affectionately,
8 III 2005
Maria Gabriella

The letter of Maria Beatrice to Maria Gabriella from 2007:

Dear Ella,
Having read your letter of the eighth of March 2005 about our recognition in Vittorio’s favour concerning the question of the Orders, I find myself entirely in agreement.
I embrace you, Maria Beatrice
31 March 2007

The 2007 letter of King Simeon of Bulgaria to Princess Maria Gabriella (and Princess Maria Beatrice):

09.05.2007
Dear Ella and Titti,
Being aware of certain speculations on the part of the press concerning the letter of 5 December 1983 of which we were the joint signatories, I wish to confirm that my participation should not be understood as an opportunity to express any kind of value that could be of use to the dynastic succession of your House; particularly as the document exclusively regarded the custody of the Great Collars of the Most Holy Annunciation.
Your old and very affectionate cousin,
Simeon

The 2007 letter of Landgrave Moritz of Hesse to Princess Maria Gabriella:

MORITZ LANDGRAF VON HESSEN
22 May 2007
Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy
Dear Ella,
The letter dated 5 December 1983, which we issued after the will of King Umberto II was opened, has recently become widely know to the public, but for purposes that have no connection whatever with those originally intended. Actually its sole purpose was to allow Vittorio Emanuele temporary custody of the Great Collars of the Most Holy Annunciation, and was certainly not meant to imply any kind of dynastic recognition. All the more so since it had nothing at all to do with the King’s will, but merely to satisfy an incidental and provisional need, as Vittorio Emanuele knew perfectly well when he accepted the task on this understanding. Besides this it is quite obvious that none of the signatories had the power to confer roles and positions of the House of Savoy, or to change the will of the King.
Cordially,
Moritz

 

[Marengo]

Thank you for the copies of the letters. I do not remember seeing/reading them before. A most interesting case.

So it seems the princesses changed their mind, which I suppose can happen after 20 years. I imagine loyalty to their mother -who AFAIK supported her son- also may have incite them to sign the original statement.

I do not find the argument of the Bulgarian King all that convincing, though I understand his wish to stay out of such a matter. It seems that Landgrave Moritz claims he only agreed on the order to be headed by the Prince of Napels but that he did not want to say anything about the headship of the family.

 

[Mbruno]

Thank you for the copies of the letters. I do not remember seeing/reading them before. A most interesting case.

So it seems the princesses changed their mind, which I suppose can happen after 20 years. I imagine loyalty to their mother -who AFAIK supported her son- also may have incite them to sign the original statement.

I do not find the argument of the Bulgarian King all that convincing, though I understand his wish to stay out of such a matter. It seems that Landgrave Moritz claims he only agreed on the order to be headed by the Prince of Napels but that he did not want to say anything about the headship of the family.

I don’t find Tsar Simeon’s argument convincing either. The Grand Master and SovereIgn of the Supreme Order of the Holy Annunciation and of the Order of the Saints Maurice and Lazarus has always been also the head of the House of Savoy as those are dynastic orders. The two roles cannot be separated. It doesn’t make sense then to say that the origina letter was in support of the Prince of Naples being the Grand Master of the orders, but not the head of the House.


Given the unfortunate reputation of the Prince, I am not sure if his royal cousins such as Simeon, Philippe and Henri will attend the funeral. Maybe King Albert and Queen Paola will be there. I don’t expect other royal houses to be represented either, but it remains to be seen.

 

[Stefan]

Given the unfortunate reputation of the Prince, I am not sure if his royal cousins such as Simeon, Philippe and Henri will attend the funeral. Maybe King Albert and Queen Paola will be there. I don’t expect other royal houses to be represented either, but it remains to be seen.

Could be that Prince Albert of Moanco will attend. He is close to Emanuele Filiberto and his Wedding Vittorio Emanuele and Marina as well as Emanuele Filiberto and Clotilde attended.

 

[JGio]

Could be that Prince Albert of Moanco will attend. He is close to Emanuele Filiberto and his Wedding Vittorio Emanuele and Marina as well as Emanuele Filiberto and Clotilde attended.

Agree. Maybe just a few from minor and non-reigning royal families. I don’t expect Kings or their close relatives to attend.
However, Prince Emanuele Filiberto said yesterday night that several royal families called him to express their condolences and was very grateful for that.
They are looking for a Church in Turin large enough because the Basilica of Superga is rather small for all the people in attendance.

UPDATE: the Funeral is to be held at the Cathedral of Turin. It’s a meaningful Church for the House and there the Holy Shroud (gifted to the Church by King Umberto II) is preserved.

 

[SirGyamfi1]

Agree. Maybe just a few from minor and non-reigning royal families. I don’t expect Kings or their close relatives to attend.
However, Prince Emanuele Filiberto said yesterday night that several royal families called him to express their condolences and was very grateful for that.
They are looking for a Church in Turin large enough because the Basilica of Superga is rather small for all the people in attendance.

UPDATE: the Funeral is to be held at the Cathedral of Turin. It’s a meaningful Church for the House and there the Holy Shroud (gifted to the Church by King Umberto II) is preserved.

I wonder which of the several royal families he’s referring to. I’m sure Belgium, maybe Luxembourg offered condolences and of course Monaco, but unless the majority of the other houses who sent condolences are non-reigning.

 

[maria-olivia]

The Royal Houses know him. He was at the Wedding of Prince Felipe where he attacked the Duke of Aosta.
He did attend the Funerals of Prince Charles , Count of Flandres , King Leopold III and King Baudouin. Perthaps a member of the Royal Houses of Belgium ( Princess Léa) and Luxembourg will attend and of course the Prince of Monaco.
His nephewe : Dimitri, Michel, Serge and Helène of Yougoslavia, Marie Elisabeth de Balkany, Azea Reyna.
He was Great Master of the Order des Saints Maurice et Lazare .

 

[Moonmaiden23]

On 5 December 1983 at Cascais, the widowed Queen Marie-José of Italy as well as her daughters Princess Maria Pia, Princess Maria Gabriella, and Princess Maria Beatrice all signed a statement purporting to recognise their son/brother Vittorio Emanuele as Head of the Royal House of Savoy. The statement was co-signed by the three executors of the late king's will. It was filed at Lausanne on 7 December 1983. The English translation of the statement read as follows:



The later letters of the sisters and cousins (who were executors of King Umberto's will) state that they were not recognizing Vittorio Emanuele as Head of House Savoy, and that they did not have the ability to do so anyway. Clearly, the statement was worded in such a way as that they did recognize him as the Head of the House, but once the split happened in 2006, then they revised their position.

Is the aforementioned Guibert d'Udekem a member of the same family as Queen Mathilde? Just curious.

 

[GondorHasNoPants]

Is the aforementioned Guibert d'Udekem a member of the same family as Queen Mathilde? Just curious.

This forum post from 2010 provides some more information about the gentleman in question. Short answer - yes, it seems he is related to her.

 

[Somebody]

Thank you for the copies of the letters. I do not remember seeing/reading them before. A most interesting case.

So it seems the princesses changed their mind, which I suppose can happen after 20 years. I imagine loyalty to their mother -who AFAIK supported her son- also may have incite them to sign the original statement.

I do not find the argument of the Bulgarian King all that convincing, though I understand his wish to stay out of such a matter. It seems that Landgrave Moritz claims he only agreed on the order to be headed by the Prince of Napels but that he did not want to say anything about the headship of the family.

It's not convincing at all. Especially since the original declaration included the sentence that he was recognized as such 'as the Head of the House of Savoy'. So, while the intent apparently was not to recognize him as the Head, they recognized him as grandmaster because they accepted that he was the head...

The undersigned heirs of H.M. the King, Umberto II, recognize that Prince Vittorio-Emanuele, as Head of the House of Savoy, is Grand Master of the Most Holy Order of the Annunciation and the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, and that he is the keeper of the Great Collars of the Order aforementioned.

 

[Benjamin]

There are many letters from the 1960s between King Umberto and Prince Vittorio Emanuele in which the king makes it clear that he could not and would not consent to an unequal marriage for his only son.

 

[Linda_26]

No word on the cause of death? As it’s not an entirely unexpected one, you’d think someone might say.

According to his son Emanuele Filiberto, VE, who had been frail for some time, was hospitalized after developing a severe infection in his leg, which weakened his vital functions. He was "close to the end" on Thursday, then there was a slight improvement in his condition, but he eventually passed away on Saturday morning.
Here's EF's interview to Il Corriere Della Sera:

https://www.corriere.it/cronache/24...ta-e9170312-c390-11ee-ab83-02c4d4315342.shtml

I wonder which of the several royal families he’s referring to. I’m sure Belgium, maybe Luxembourg offered condolences and of course Monaco, but unless the majority of the other houses who sent condolences are non-reigning.

In the same interview, he mentions receiving condolences from the Royal Families of "Spain, Belgium, Monaco and Iran".

 

[Mbruno]

According to his son Emanuele Filiberto, VE, who had been frail for some time, was hospitalized after developing a severe infection in his leg, which weakened his vital functions. He was "close to the end" on Thursday, then there was a slight improvement in his condition, but he eventually passed away on Saturday morning.
Here's EF's interview to Il Corriere Della Sera:

https://www.corriere.it/cronache/24...ta-e9170312-c390-11ee-ab83-02c4d4315342.shtml



In the same interview, he mentions receiving condolences from the Royal Families of "Spain, Belgium, Monaco and Iran".

I am surprised that there were no condolences from the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg and the Royal Family of Bulgaria given that they are close relatives.

Did he receive any condolences from the government of the Italian Republic? I wouldn't expect that given the Republic's treatment of the Savoy family.

 

[JGio]

Did he receive any condolences from the government of the Italian Republic? I wouldn't expect that given the Republic's treatment of the Savoy family.

As far as I know, the Minister of Defense sent his Condolences to Prince Emanuele Filiberto. I don’t expect much more. VE was a rather controversial figure in Italy and abroad. I see why even close Royal families are not making public condolences to the Savoys. But I am glad private calls and condolences have been made.

 

[MAfan]

He did indeed, but it seemed to me more of a personal message rather than an official message coming from a member of the government.

 

[Tatiana Maria]

As far as I know, the Minister of Defense sent his Condolences to Prince Emanuele Filiberto.

He did indeed, but it seemed to me more of a personal message rather than an official message coming from a member of the government.

Interesting; where was that disclosed? Emanuele Filiberto doesn't seem to have mentioned it in the interview posted by Linda_26.

Is the Minister of Defense personally friendly with the family?

 

[MAfan]

This is the link to the tweet containing the condolence message:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1753756832382726231

And this is its translation:
"Dear Emanuele, my deepest condolences to you and your family on the passing of your dear father Vittorio Emanuele. I remember him fondly and remember the many times that, in Piedmont, I was able to share his company. A strong hug."

To me, it seems quite a personal message rather than an institutional one.

 

[JGio]

To me, it seems quite a personal message rather than an institutional one.

It is indeed a personal message. As said the Government and the Presidency are not interested in the Monarchy.

 

[Tatiana Maria]

This is the link to the tweet containing the condolence message:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1753756832382726231

And this is its translation:
"Dear Emanuele, my deepest condolences to you and your family on the passing of your dear father Vittorio Emanuele. I remember him fondly and remember the many times that, in Piedmont, I was able to share his company. A strong hug."

To me, it seems quite a personal message rather than an institutional one.

Thank you! I agree that it is clearly worded as a personal message, though the fact that he is sending the message publicly while serving a member of government still carries some weight and is probably the most the family could hope for, given Vittorio Emanuele's well-known actions and behavior as a person.

 

[JGio]

An interesting interview has been released by the President of the Savoy Royal Residences Foundation, who leads the management of Venaria Reale, where the laying-in-state of the Duke of Savoy is to take place on Friday. He said to be very glad to host the coffin of the Prince not only because he was the son of the last King but also as a form of promotion of the royal site. He stated to have been contacted by a delegate of Charles III to understand if sending a Windsor representative was feasible on Friday. He has also stated to have been in touch with other royal families in these days.
Given that the President is a very respectable person and even a Knight of the Republic, I struggle to not believe him. But I don’t expect the hype and royalty at the levels rumored by tabloids. I would be very surprised to see important people showing up.

 

[An Ard Ri]

A look at the Basilica of Superga which houses the Savoy Family Burial crypt.
https://www.ppe-agency.com/show.php?start=0&zoektype=2&search=04-02-2024 Turin

 

[Linda_26]

Emanuele Filiberto shared some pictures of him with his father Vittorio Emanuele on his Instagram account:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C3CaYA0osY4/?igsh=NDBxdWsxaWRqMjVu

 

[iceflower]

The coffin of Coffin of Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy arrived at Sant'Uberto Chapel in Turin this morning, February 9:


** gettyimages gallery: ITA: H.S.R. Vittorio Emanuele Of Savoy Mourning **

 

[Mbruno]

The coffin of Coffin of Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy arrived at Sant'Uberto Chapel in Turin this morning, February 9:


** gettyimages gallery: ITA: H.S.R. Vittorio Emanuele Of Savoy Mourning **

Why is the prefix H.S.R. used in the pictures? Interestingly, Emanuele Filiberto is referred as H.R.H. instead.

VENARIA REALE, ITALY - FEBRUARY 09: H.R.H. Emanuele Filiberto, Duke of Savoy and Prince of Venice mourns the loss of H.S.R. Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy at Sant'uberto Chapel on February 09, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)