Italy bids a quiet farewell to Vittorio Emanuele, son of its last king

TURIN, Italy – Hundreds of mourners gathered on Saturday in the northern city of Turin to pay their respects at the funeral of Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy, the only son of Italy’s last king, who passed away the previous week at age 86.

Among the attendees at the city’s main cathedral were Prince Albert of Monaco and former Queen Sofia of Spain. Outside, small groups of supporters braved the rain, holding placards with messages such as "Safe Journey, Prince".

A condolence message from Pope Francis was read during the service, which attracted only a modest turnout, reflecting the fact that Vittorio Emanuele spent much of his life in exile in Switzerland.

His 51-year-old son, Emanuele Filiberto, bent down to kiss the coffin as it was placed into a hearse, accompanied by his mother, Marina Doria, the widow of Vittorio Emanuele.

Born in Naples, Vittorio Emanuele left Italy as a child when his father, Umberto II, was forced to leave following a 1946 referendum that abolished the monarchy and established a republic.

Vittorio Emanuele had long declared himself King of Italy, engaging in a prolonged struggle against the constitutional ban that kept male members of his family from returning to the country. He ultimately returned to Italy in 2002 after parliament lifted the ban, making a brief visit to Rome and meeting Pope John Paul II.

However, he faced a lukewarm reception upon his return, as the House of Savoy’s reputation had been tarnished by its associations with fascist dictator Benito Mussolini during World War Two, as well as Vittorio Emanuele’s own legal troubles.