Global Courant
Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy is willing to give up his title in favor of a more modern approach to monarchy.
The Italian prince confirmed to Fox News Digital that he intends to abdicate his claim to the throne in favor of his daughter, Princess Vittoria.
The 19-year-old, who is currently studying political science and art history in the UK, is also a fashion model with some 85,000 followers on Instagram.
Princess Vittoria of Savoy is studying art history and political science in the UK while modeling. (Dominique Charriau/WireImage)
“We’re in a world where there’s a lot of change, a lot of rapid change, and I really like the approach that the younger generation can take on and handle uncertain things these days,” said the patriarch. “I don’t want to, let’s say, block my daughter until I get really old and maybe take some great things (away from her) that she could do.”
“Right now she’s studying,” he said. “She also has to do her life and her career, because we are not a reigning monarchy. She has to work to make money. She likes art history, she wants to open a gallery, she wants to work with young artists. … When I feel that she ready, (I would) be very happy to step back and let her assume the role of head of the royal family in Italy.”
The Telegraph first reported the 50-year-old’s plans on June 7. According to the outlet, the House of Savoy ruled from 1861 to 1946. At that time, the country was known as the Kingdom of Italy. The House of Savoy was founded in the 11th century.
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Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy shares two daughters with French actress Clotilde Courau. (Courtesy of Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy)
Italians voted to abolish the monarchy and become a republic after the family’s disastrous support for dictator Benito Mussolini. The family fled to Rome in 1943 to evade an invading German army, People magazine previously reported. According to the outlet, King Umberto II left for Portugal and male heirs of the royal family were banned from Italy until 2002. At the time, parliament voted to end the exile and allow them to return as ordinary citizens. Umberto II, the last reigning king of Italy, died in 1983 at the age of 78.
Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples, is shown with his wife, Marina Doria, and their son, Emanuele Filiberto, in Geneva circa 1982. (Alberto Roveri/Mondadori via Getty Images)
Filiberto noted that two years ago his father, Prince Vittorio Emanuele, changed an old custom known as the Salic Law, which excludes women from the line of succession. The 86-year-old’s decree gives his granddaughter the power to ultimately lead the family.
Filiberto is a father of two daughters. His youngest, Princess Luisa, is 17 and attends boarding school in Oxford.
Prince Emanuele Filiberto said his daughter, Vittoria, is “much more” than a social media influencer. (Courtesy of Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy)
“Today it makes no sense to have a Salic law,” Filiberto said. “My father firmly believes that whether you’re a man or a woman, you might as well take the helm. Maybe women’s sensitivity makes them even better at handling things.’
According to Filiberto, he said Vittoria is happy with the decision, which has been carefully discussed within the family. While the Savoy family has no ruling power in Italy, Vittoria will eventually run their charities, which reportedly spent $1 million last year. The Telegraph noted that this year they plan to build a music school destroyed by last month’s devastating floods in the northern region of Emilia-Romagna.
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A man walks on a flooded road after heavy rain in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy on May 19, 2023 in Lugo, Italy. (Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)
But for now, education comes first, Filiberto said.
Vittoria and her mother, French actress Clotilde Courau, can be seen at Paris Fashion Week on September 30, 2022. (Richard Bord/Getty Images)
“She needs to study her family’s history and be more involved,” he said. “But I really think Vittoria has all the capabilities to take over the House of Savoy and bring it into the 22nd century. Let’s just say… Vittoria has always been aware of what is happening in our world. For example (on) the beginning of the war in Ukraine, she immediately went with the Red Cross (to) the border of Poland to … help young people and mothers who crossed the border.”
Vittoria has about 85,000 followers on social media. (Dominique Charriau/WireImage)
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“… She, like many young people, wants to make things better in our world,” he continued. “Maybe someone like Greta Thunberg (other young people) helped to do this. She made them aware of what was happening in the world. And I think younger people are much more reactive than us old people. Younger people are much more concerned . about our world.”
While Vittoria has been labeled a social media influencer by the press, Filiberto said she is “much more than that.”
Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, grandson of Italy’s last king, is seen here with his daughter Vittoria and his wife Clotilde Courau, arriving for the baby’s christening ceremony at the Basilica of Saint Francis on May 30, 2004 in Assisi, Italy. (Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
“She always gets very angry when the papers call her ‘Influential Princess’ or ‘Instagram Star,'” he said. “She always says, ‘No, I study political science and art.’ And it’s true that young people, young girls like to take pictures and things like that. She does some modeling and collaborates with brands. But… if you can use Instagram, TikTok or whatever to create awareness… is it a beautiful thing. And why not? (Social media) is important these days. It’s also a responsibility to have a large following because you can really connect with people.”
Filiberto said he has been fiercely protective of his daughters over the years. And in the UK, Vittoria enjoys her life in anonymity while focusing on her studies. This summer she works in an art gallery.
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Emanuele Filiberto said he and his family can make a difference by supporting Italy worldwide. (Luc Castel/Getty Images)
“She will work because it’s important she knows what work is,” he said. “She takes the London Underground. She’s a young girl like many young girls…I don’t want her to be brought up in this princess way…she needs to know what life is, what work is, how to make money, earning, the importance of knowing the value of money and (seeing) other realities. She needs to know as much as she can about the world around us. … I was much more protected. I was in a big boarding school. I could be 30 not go to Italy for years. I was in exile. So all the work I do is to open the (doors) for (my daughters) to live a normal life.”
Vittoria can be seen here in Poland on the border with Ukraine during the ongoing Russian invasion. (Courtesy of Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy)
“These are young girls, normal girls who come from an important family… a dynasty. It’s important to do both things,” he added.
Filiberto said there is no crown to fight over. There are zero plans for the restoration of a monarchy in Italy. For many Italians, they prefer it. Over the years, Filiberto has tried to carve out his path as a non-working royal, including launching a food truck in Los Angeles and competing in Italy’s version of “Strictly Come Dancing.”
Emanuele Filiberto competes in the Italian version of “Strictly Come Dancing” in Rome. (Elisabetta A. Villa/WireImage)
“Today Italy is a republic,” he said. “It’s been a republic for over 70 years. And it’s a strong republic…I think we can play a different role in supporting the republic. We have our history, our values…we could promote a lot of initiatives. It there’s no need to restore a monarchy. You can do a lot of good things without it. I’ve read a lot of comments like, ‘He talks about abdicating, but there’s no monarchy anymore.’ Yes, but the House of Savoy is a lot of other things besides a monarchy. We have our dynastic orders. There is a big family… So even though there is no monarchy in Italy, there are many things in the House of Savoy. can do in Italy and also abroad.”
Prince Emanuele Filiberto and wife Clotilde Courau attend the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 4, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Presley Ann/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
Is there anything Filiberto is looking forward to when he hands over the reins to Vittoria?
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“Retiring,” he replied quickly before laughing. “No, you never retire. You know, I’ve been working since I was very young. I followed my father(s) I took over a lot of things long ago. I had the chance to enter Italy when I was 30 years old .I’ve visited all over Italy and made official trips.I’ve met incredible people.So I’m very fulfilled.I’m very happy.I don’t know what my life will be like.…Even if I’m not into it.. .still working with my daughters, I like the idea that they are the new faces of the House of Savoy.’
Fox News Digital’s Tracy Wright contributed to this report.
Stephanie Nolasco covers entertainment at Foxnews.com.
