The funeral of Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy, the son of Italy's last king, marked a somber occasion in the northern Italian city of Turin. Hundreds of mourners, including notable figures like Prince Albert of Monaco and Spain's former Queen Sofia, gathered at the city's main cathedral to pay their respects to the late prince, who passed away at the age of 86.
Despite the rain dampening the streets outside, small groups of well-wishers stood outside the cathedral, holding placards with heartfelt messages bidding farewell to the prince. "Safe Journey, Prince," read one of the placards, reflecting the sentiment of those who came to honor his memory.
During the funeral service, a message of condolence from Pope Francis was conveyed, offering solace to the grieving family and acknowledging the significance of Vittorio Emanuele's life. However, the service itself garnered limited interest within Italy, underscoring the prince's status as one who spent a significant portion of his life in exile, primarily residing in Switzerland.
Vittorio Emanuele's son, Emanuele Filiberto, paid his final respects by bending down to kiss his father's coffin as it was placed into the hearse. Alongside him stood his mother, Marina Doria, the widow of Vittorio Emanuele, embodying the solemnity and sorrow of the occasion.
Born in Naples, Vittorio Emanuele experienced a childhood marked by exile when his father, Umberto II, was compelled to leave Italy following the abolition of the monarchy in 1946. Despite his aspirations to reclaim the throne, Vittorio Emanuele faced legal barriers, including a provision in the Italian Constitution prohibiting male members of his family from returning to the country.
It wasn't until 2002 that Vittorio Emanuele was able to set foot on Italian soil again, following the lifting of the ban by parliament. His visit to Rome, which included an audience with Pope John Paul, symbolized a momentous return to his homeland. However, the reception he received was lukewarm at best, reflecting the complexities surrounding the House of Savoy's legacy and Vittorio Emanuele's own legal entanglements.
The association of the House of Savoy with fascist dictator Benito Mussolini during World War II further tainted their reputation, casting a shadow over Vittorio Emanuele's attempts to reconcile with Italy's past. Despite the challenges and controversies that defined his life, Vittorio Emanuele's passing marked the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy entwined with the complexities of Italian history and monarchy.
