Italy’s last king died in exile. Now his grandson is fighting for his return to Rome

Prince Emanuele Filiberto has received approval from Giorgia Meloni to bury his grandfather King Umberto II and grandmother Marie-José at the Pantheon

Black and white photo of Queen Marie-Jose and King Umberto II.
King Umberto II, who reigned for 35 days in 1946 before the monarchy was abolished, with his wife Marie-José
ERIC VANDEVILLE/GAMMA-RAPHO/GETTY IMAGES
Philip Willan
, Rome
The Times

The reign of Italy’s last king, Umberto II, lasted only 35 days, but his banishment has lasted almost 80 years.

Today his grandson is seeking to return the remains of Umberto and his wife Marie-José of Belgium from France for reburial in the Pantheon, the Roman temple once intended to be the final resting place for Italian monarchs.

Prince Emanuele Filiberto, heir to the monarchy that was abolished by referendum in 1946, said his grandparents were devoted to Italy and had always showed respect for the Italian republic. Umberto died in 1983, aged 82; Marie-José died in 2001, aged 94.

Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia on a television program.
Prince Emanuele Filiberto was only allowed to return to Italy after a ban on male heirs of the House of Savoy entering the country was lifted
MARIO CARTELLI/SOPA IMAGES/LIGHTROCKET

“It would be a gesture of reconciliation between the Italian republic and the Savoy family,” the prince told The Times. “There is really nothing that

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