House of Savoy Prince will relinquish claim to country’s throne so it will pass to influencer daughter
The 19-year-old London student who could be Queen of Italy: House of Savoy Prince says he will relinquish his claim to the country’s throne to pass to his influential daughter, who he says will hold more hope restoration of the monarchy
- Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy predicts his daughter, 19, will do better
- The teen model has nearly 80,000 followers on Instagram and studies in London
An Italian prince is about to abdicate his claim to the Italian throne to pass directly to his teenage daughter, an influencer with a huge social media platform and following.
Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy predicts his 19-year-old daughter Vittoria, a political science and art history student at the University of London, will do better in the role than he would.
The teen model has nearly 80,000 followers on Instagram and is affectionately referred to as the ‘rock n roll Princess’ by her 50-year-old father for her interest in social media and fashion.
Talking to the Daily telegramthe prince said he would be “with great pleasure” stepping down and added that he was “confident that she will do better than me.”
“It is important that the younger generation has the opportunity to put new, modern ideas into practice,” he added.
Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy predicts his 19-year-old daughter Vittoria, a political science and art history student at the University of London, will do better in the role than he would
The teen model has nearly 80,000 followers on Instagram and is affectionately referred to as the ‘rock n roll Princess’ by her 50-year-old father for her interest in social media and fashion
The Savoy family had already changed ancient customs known as the Salic Law to allow Vittoria to inherit the throne
Italy currently has no royal family of its own, having abolished the monarchy in a referendum in 1946.
But the House of Savoy, the birth family of Italy’s kings from the country’s unification in the 19th century until its abolition, has never given up hope that the monarchy will be restored.
It has long referred to Spain, where the monarchy was restored after Franco’s death in 1975. The country’s king, Felipe VI, is the son of King Juan Carlos, who led Spain’s transition to democracy. His heir presumptive is 17-year-old Leonor, Princess of Asturias.
Despite little support for the restoration of the monarchy, the Prince feels many are still fascinated by the monarchy. He says, “I think in times of crisis people see a strong, almost spiritual presence in kings and queens.”
The prince’s decision to abdicate may have already been made. The Savoy family had already changed old customs known as the Salic Law to allow Vittoria to inherit the throne.
Previously, the law stipulated that the royal line could only pass to male heirs.
But two years ago, the prince’s father, Vittorio Emanuele, whose father was the last reigning king of Italy, changed the law, allowing his granddaughter to inherit the title.
Prince Emanuele added that his decision to abdicate prevents his daughter from waiting to inherit the throne.
‘He [Charles] is a great king, but he waited a long time,” he said. ‘Perhaps it would have helped if he had become king twenty years ago.
“In a few years there will be more queens than kings in Europe,” he added. “People understand now, even if it’s a little late, that a woman’s intelligence and sensitivity makes them great leaders.”