The grandson of Italy’s last king, Prince Emanuele Filiberto, has launched a campaign to bring back the remains of King Umberto II and his wife, Queen Marie-José, for reburial in the historic Pantheon in Rome. With the backing of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and key government ministers, the prince is now awaiting approval from President Sergio Mattarella for the final go-ahead.
Umberto II, who reigned for only 35 days in 1946 before Italy voted to abolish the monarchy, spent the rest of his life in exile, passing away in 1983 in Portugal. His wife, Marie-José, known for her anti-fascist stance, died in 2001. Their remains currently lie at Hautecombe Abbey in France, but Filiberto argues that their devotion to Italy makes the Pantheon, the traditional resting place of Italian monarchs, the most fitting location for their final burial.
The Times UK, which first reported Filiberto’s campaign, highlighted the prince’s assertion that his grandfather played a significant diplomatic role during World War II. According to Filiberto, Umberto II gained the respect of both Sir Winston Churchill and U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower for his efforts in international negotiations. Despite being the son of the controversial King Victor Emmanuel III, who was associated with Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime, Umberto II accepted the referendum’s outcome and chose exile to prevent further unrest in Italy.
“It would be a gesture of reconciliation between the Italian republic and the Savoy family,” Filiberto told The Times. “There is really nothing that can be held against these two figures, who respected the Italian republic until the end of their lives.”
While the return of Victor Emmanuel III’s remains in 2017 sparked some controversy due to his ties with Mussolini, Filiberto insists that Umberto II and Marie-José should not face the same level of opposition. He points out that his grandmother actively aided the anti-fascist resistance by helping smuggle arms from Switzerland to the partisans during the war.
The push for the reburial at the Pantheon requires government approval, as the site falls under the jurisdiction of Italy’s culture ministry. If granted, the relocation would symbolically reintegrate the exiled monarchs into Italy’s history alongside previous kings like Victor Emmanuel II and Umberto I.
Beyond his royal lineage, Filiberto has made a name for himself in entertainment and business, dabbling in politics, appearing on Italy’s version of Strictly Come Dancing, and launching RoyaLand, an AI-powered online role-playing game centered around royalty. Despite his varied pursuits, he remains committed to securing a dignified resting place for his grandparents.
