Editing House of Savoy (section)

== History ==
=== Early history ===
The name derives from the historical region of Savoy in the [[Alps]] between what is now France and Italy. Over time, the House of Savoy expanded its territory and influence through judicious marriages and international diplomacy.<ref>{{cite book |last=Cox |first=Eugene |title=The kingdom of Burgundy, the land of the house of Savoy and adjacent territories |date=1999 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |editor-last=McKitterick |editor-first=Rosamond |series=The New Cambridge Medieval History |volume=5, C.1198-C.1300 |pages=365–366 |editor-last2=Abulafia |editor-first2=David}}</ref> The house descended from [[Humbert I, Count of Sabaudia]], also known as Umberto I "Biancamano" (1003–1047 or 1048). The ancestry of Humbert is uncertain, as contemporary documents make no mention of his father. His family was traditionally believed to have come from Saxony;<ref>{{Cite Catholic Encyclopedia|wstitle=Savoy}}</ref> more recent investigations into the 21st century pointed to the [[County of Vienne]], where both Humbert and his relatives held extensive possessions, as a more plausible origin.<ref>Administrative charters of Humbert's family are studied in the thesis Laurent Ripart, « Les fondements idéologiques du pouvoir des comtes de la maison de Savoie (de la fin du Xe au début du XIIIe siècle) », Université de Nice, 1999, 3 volumes, Tome II, p. 496-695.</ref><ref>{{Cite book|language=fr|last1=Ducourthial|first1=Cyrille|chapter=Géographie du pouvoir en pays de Savoie au tournant de l’an mil|title=Le royaume de Bourgogne autour de l'an mil|publisher=Université de Savoie|year=2008|isbn=978-2915797350|url=http://www.mgh-bibliothek.de/dokumente/b/b071315.pdf|pages=223–225|archive-date=7 March 2024|access-date=22 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307200013/https://www.mgh-bibliothek.de/dokumente/b/b071315.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Abbaye royale de Hautecombe II - 200501.JPG|thumb|left|200px|[[Hautecombe Abbey]], where many of the dukes are buried]]
Although [[Sabaudia (Savoy)|Sabaudia]] was originally a poor county, later [[Count|counts]] were diplomatically skilled, and gained control over strategic mountain passes in the Alps. Two of Humbert's sons were commendatory abbots at the [[Abbey of St. Maurice, Agaunum]], on the river [[Rhône]] east of [[Lake Geneva]], and [[Saint Maurice]] is still the patron of the House of Savoy. Humbert's son, [[Otto of Savoy]], succeeded to the title in 1051 after the death of his elder brother [[Amadeus I of Savoy]]. Otto married the Marchioness Adelaide of [[Turin]], bringing the [[Marquessate of Susa]], with the towns of Turin and Pinerolo, into the House of Savoy's possession.<ref>{{Cite Catholic Encyclopedia|wstitle=Piedmont}}</ref> They once had claims on the modern [[canton of Vaud]], where they occupied the [[Château of Chillon]] in Switzerland; their access to it was cut by [[Geneva]] during the [[Protestant Reformation]], after which it was conquered by the [[Canton of Bern]]. Meanwhile, [[Piedmont]] was later joined with Sabaudia, and the name evolved into ''Savoy'' ({{langx|it|Savoia}}).

=== Expansion, retreat, and prosperity ===
[[File:Italy 1494.svg|left|thumbnail|A map of Italy in 1494]]
By the time [[Amadeus VIII, Duke of Savoy|Amadeus VIII]] came to power in the late 14th century, the House of Savoy had gone through a series of gradual territorial expansions and he was elevated by [[Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor|Sigismund]], the [[Holy Roman Emperor]], to the Duke of Savoy in 1416.<ref>''Introduction:The Sabaudian Lands and Sabaudian Studies'', Matthew Vester, Sabaudian Studies: Political Culture, Dynasty, and Territory (1400–1700), ed. Matthew Vester, (Truman State University Press, 2013), 1.</ref> In 1494, [[Charles VIII of France]] passed through Savoy on his way to Italy and Naples, which initiated the [[Italian War of 1494–1495]].<ref>''Sabaudian Studies'', Matthew Vester, Sabaudian Studies: Political Culture, Dynasty, and Territory (1400–1700), (Truman State University Press, 2013), 6.</ref> During the outbreak of the [[Italian War of 1521–1526|Italian war of 1521–1526]], the Holy Roman Emperor [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]] stationed imperial troops in Savoy.<ref>Michael Mallett and Christine Shaw, ''The Italian Wars, 1494-1559'', (Pearson Educational Limited, 2012), 154.</ref> In 1536, Francis I of France invaded Savoy and Piedmont, taking Turin by April of that year.<ref name="Mallett230-231">Michael Mallett and Christine Shaw, ''The Italian Wars, 1494-1559'', 230-231.</ref> [[Charles III, Duke of Savoy|Charles III Duke of Savoy]], fled to Vercelli.<ref name="Mallett230-231" />

When [[Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy|Emmanuel Philibert]] came to power in 1553, most of his family's territories were in French hands, so he offered to serve France's leading enemy the [[House of Habsburg]] in the hope of recovering his lands. He served [[Philip II of Spain]] as Governor of the Netherlands (then part of the [[Seventeen Provinces]]) from 1555 to 1559.<ref>Henry Kamen, ''Philip of Spain'', (Yale University Press, 1997), 64.</ref> In this capacity, he led the Spanish invasion of northern France and won a victory in the [[Battle of St. Quentin (1557)|battle of St. Quentin]] in 1557.<ref>Henry Kamen, ''Philip of Spain'', 67.</ref> He took advantage of various squabbles in Europe to slowly regain territory from both the French and the Spanish, including the city of Turin. He moved the capital of the duchy from [[Chambéry]] to Turin.

The 17th century brought about economic development to the Turin area and the House of Savoy took part in and benefitted from that. [[Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy|Charles Emmanuel II]] developed the port of [[Nice]] and built a road through the Alps towards France, and through skillful political manoeuvres the territorial expansion continued. In the early 18th century during the [[War of the Spanish Succession]], future King [[Victor Amadeus II]] switched sides to assist the Habsburgs, and via the [[Treaty of Utrecht]] they rewarded him with large pieces of land in northeastern Italy and a Crown in Sicily. [[Savoy rule over Sicily]] lasted only seven years (1713–1720).

=== Kingdom of Italy ===
[[File:Italy 1796.svg|thumbnail|left|A map of Italy in 1796]]
The crown of Sicily, the prestige of being [[King|kings]] at last, and the wealth of [[Palermo]] helped strengthen the House of Savoy further. In 1720, they were forced to exchange Sicily for the [[Kingdom of Sardinia]] as a result of the [[War of the Quadruple Alliance]]. On the mainland, the dynasty continued its expansionist policies as well. Through advantageous alliances during the [[War of the Polish Succession]] and [[War of the Austrian Succession]], King [[Charles Emmanuel III]] gained new lands at the expense of the [[Austrian Empire|Austrian]]-controlled [[Duchy of Milan]].

In 1792, Piedmont–Sardinia joined the [[First Coalition]] against the [[French First Republic]]. It was beaten in 1796 by [[Napoleon]] and forced to conclude the disadvantageous [[Treaty of Paris (1796)|Treaty of Paris]], giving the French army free passage through Piedmont. In 1798, [[Barthélemy Catherine Joubert]] occupied Turin and forced [[Charles Emmanuel IV]] to abdicate and leave for the island of [[Sardinia]]. In 1814, the kingdom was restored and enlarged with the addition of the former [[Republic of Genoa]] by the [[Congress of Vienna]].

[[File:Italia 1843-en.svg|thumb|left|A map of Italy in 1843]]
In the meantime, [[Italian nationalist]] figures like [[Giuseppe Mazzini]] were influencing popular opinion. Mazzini believed that [[Italian unification]] could only be achieved through a [[popular uprising]]. After the failure of the [[Revolutions of 1848 in the Italian states]], the nationalists began to look to the [[Kingdom of Sardinia (1720–1861)|Kingdom of Sardinia]] and its prime minister [[Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour]] as leaders of the unification movement. In 1848, King [[Charles Albert of Sardinia|Charles Albert]] conceded a constitution known as the ''[[Statuto Albertino]]'' to Piedmont–Sardinia, which remained the basis of the kingdom's legal system even after Italian unification was achieved and the Kingdom of Sardinia became the [[Kingdom of Italy]] in 1861.

The Kingdom of Italy was the first Italian state to include the Italian peninsula since the fall of the [[Roman Empire]]. When [[Victor Emmanuel II|Victor Emmanuel]] was crowned King of Italy in 1861, his realm did not include the [[Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia|Venetia]] region (subject to Habsburg governance), [[Lazio]] (with Rome), [[Umbria]], [[Marche]], and [[Romagna]] (with the [[Holy See|Papal]] town of [[Bologna]]). Yet the House of Savoy continued to rule Italy for several decades through the Italian independence wars as Italian unification proceeded and even as the [[First World War]] raged on in the early 20th century.

=== Massacres ===
In April 1655, based on perhaps false reports of resistance by the [[Waldensians]], a [[Protestant]] religious minority, to a plan to resettle them in remote mountain valleys, [[Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy|Charles Emmanuel II]] ordered their general massacre, which became known as the [[Piedmontese Easter]]. The massacre was so brutal it aroused indignation throughout Europe. [[Oliver Cromwell]], then ruler in England, began petitioning on behalf of the Waldensians, writing letters, raising contributions, calling a general fast in England, and threatening to send military forces to the rescue. The massacre prompted [[John Milton]]'s famous sonnet, "[[On the Late Massacre in Piedmont]]".

In 1898, the [[Bava Beccaris massacre]] in Milan involved the use of cannons against unarmed protesters (including women and the elderly) during riots over the rising price of bread. King [[Umberto I]] of the House of Savoy congratulated General [[Fiorenzo Bava Beccaris]] for the massacre and decorated him with the medal of Great Official of Savoy Military Order, greatly outraging a large part of the public opinion. As a result, Umberto I was assassinated in July 1900 in [[Monza]] by [[Gaetano Bresci]], the brother of one of the women massacred in the crowd, who had traveled back to Italy from the United States for the assassination. The king had previously been the target of failed assassination attempts by anarchists [[Giovanni Passannante]] and [[Pietro Acciarito]].

=== Fascism and end of monarchy ===
When the [[First World War]] ended, the [[Treaty of Versailles]] fell short of what had been promised in the [[London Pact]] to Italy. As the economic conditions in Italy worsened after the war, popular resentment and along with it the seeds of [[Italian fascism]] began to grow and resulted in the [[March on Rome]] by [[Benito Mussolini]]. General [[Pietro Badoglio]] advised King [[Victor Emmanuel III]] that he could easily sweep Mussolini and his rag-tag [[Blackshirt]] army to one side but Victor Emmanuel decided to tolerate Mussolini and appointed him as [[prime minister of Italy]] on 28 October 1922. The king remained silent as Mussolini engaged in one abuse of power after another from 1924 onward, and did not intervene in 1925–1926 when Mussolini dropped all pretense of democracy. By the end of 1928, the king's right to remove Mussolini from office was, at least theoretically, the only check on his power. Later, the king's failure, in the face of mounting evidence, to move against the Mussolini regime's abuses of power led to much criticism and had dire future consequences for Italy and for the [[monarchy]] itself.

After their invasion in 1935, Italy conquered Ethiopia in the [[Second Italo-Ethiopian War]] and Victor Emmanuel was crowned as Emperor of Ethiopia. He also added the Albanian crown 1939 but lost Ethiopia as part of the [[East African campaign (World War II)|East African campaign]] in 1941; however, as Mussolini and the [[Axis powers]] failed in the [[Second World War]] in 1943, several members of the Italian court began putting out feelers to the [[Allies of World War II]], who in turn let it be known that Mussolini had to go. After Mussolini received a vote of no confidence from the [[Fascist Grand Council]] on 24 July, Victor Emmanuel dismissed him from office, relinquished the Ethiopian and Albanian crowns, and appointed Pietro Badoglio as prime minister. On 8 September, the new government announced it had signed an armistice with the Allies five days earlier; however, Victor Emmanuel made another blunder when he and his government fled south to [[Brindisi]], leaving his army without orders.

As the Allies and the [[Italian Resistance]] gradually chased the [[Nazis]] and fascists off the peninsula, it became apparent that Victor Emmanuel was too tainted by his earlier support of Mussolini to have any postwar role. Accordingly, Victor Emmanuel transferred most of his powers to his son, Crown Prince Umberto, in April 1944. Rome was liberated two months later, and Victor Emmanuel transferred his remaining powers to Umberto and named him [[Lieutenant General of the Realm]]. Within a year, public opinion pushed for a [[referendum]] to decide between retaining the monarchy or becoming a [[republic]]. On 9 May 1946, in a last-ditch attempt to save the monarchy, Victor Emmanuel formally abdicated in favour of his son, who became [[Umberto II]]. It did not work as the [[1946 Italian institutional referendum]] was won by republicans with 54% of the vote. Victor Emmanuel went into exile in [[Egypt]], dying there a year later.

On 12 June 1946, the Kingdom of Italy formally came to an end as Umberto II transferred his powers to the prime minister [[Alcide de Gasperi]] and called for the Italian people to support the new republic. He then went into exile in [[Estado Novo (Portugal)|Portugal]], never to return; he died in 1983. The [[Constitution of the Italian Republic]] includes the [[entrenched clause]] that the republican form of government cannot be changed by [[constitutional amendment]], thus forbidding any attempt to restore the monarchy short of adoption of an entirely new [[constitution]]. The Constitution of Italy also forbade male descendants of the House of Savoy from entering Italy.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Buonomo |first=Giampiero |year=2000 |title=Né l'Unione europea, né i diritti dell'uomo possono aprire le frontiere a Casa Savoia |url=https://www.questia.com/projects#!/project/89298424 |journal=Diritto&Giustizia |access-date=19 March 2016 |archive-date=11 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211140818/https://www.questia.com/projects#!/project/89298424 |url-status=dead|trans-quote=In order to prevail the thirteenth final provision of the Italian Constitution ... international law provides for the special instrument of 'reserves' duly stamped by the Italian State at the time of its instrument of ratification deposit of the fourth Protocol. }}</ref> This provision was removed in 2002;<ref>{{cite web |last=Buonomo |first=Giampiero |year=2002|title=Sull'esilio dei Savoia |url=https://www.academia.edu/11452824|access-date=22 December 2024|via=Academia.edu}}</ref> as part of the deal to be allowed back into Italy, [[Victor Emmanuel, Prince of Naples|Vittorio Emanuele]], the last claimant to the House of Savoy, renounced all claims to the throne.<ref>{{cite news |date=24 February 2024 |title=Right royal punch-up at Spanish prince's wedding |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/may/29/spain.johnhooper |access-date=22 December 2024 |work=The Guardian }}</ref> He died in 2024.<ref name="Reuters 2024">{{cite news |date=3 February 2024 |title=Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy, son of Italy's last king, dies aged 86 |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/obituary-vittorio-emanuele-savoy-son-italys-last-king-dies-aged-86-2024-02-03/ |work=Reuters|access-date=22 December 2024 }}</ref>

=== Controversies, damage claims against Italy, and internal disputes ===
The [[Residences of the Royal House of Savoy]] in Turin and the neighbourhood are protected as a [[World Heritage Site]]. Although the titles and distinctions of the Italian royal family are not legally recognised by the Italian Republic, the remaining members of the House of Savoy, like dynasties of other abolished monarchies, still use some of the various titles they acquired over the millennium of their reign prior to the republic's establishment, including Duke of Savoy; Prince of Naples, previously conferred by [[Joseph Bonaparte]] to be hereditary on his children and grandchildren; [[Prince of Piedmont]]; and [[Duke of Aosta]]. 

Previously, the leadership of the House of Savoy was contested by two cousins: [[Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples]], who used to claim the title of King of Italy, and [[Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta (1943–2021)|Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta]], who claimed the title of Duke of Savoy. Supporters of Vittorio Emanuele and his descendents are known as Legitimists while supporters of Amedeo and his descendents are known as Aostaists. Their rivalry was not always peaceful. On 21 May 2004, following a dinner held by King [[Juan Carlos I]] of Spain on the eve of the wedding of his son [[Felipe, Prince of Asturias]], Vittorio Emanuele punched Amedeo twice in the face.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hooper |first=John |date=28 May 2004 |title=Right royal punch-up at Spanish prince's wedding |url=https://www.theguardian.com/spain/article/0,2763,1227375,00.html |work=The Guardian|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref>

In 1969, Vittorio Emanuele made his unilateral declaration of kingship, arguing that by agreeing to submit to a referendum on his place as head of state, his father (Umberto II) had thereby abdicated. Vittorio Emanuele took this action after his father allegedly called for Amedeo to visit him in Portugal to name him his heir. Under his self-assumed powers as King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele conferred the title of Duchess of Sant'Anna di Valdieri on his then-fiancée [[Marina Doria]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.corriere.it/cronache/cards/vittorio-emanuele-80-anni-prima-pagina/leggi-monarchiche-savoia.shtml|title=Vittorio Emanuele, 80 anni in prima pagina|work=Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=3 February 2024|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fanpage.it/attualita/chi-era-vittorio-emanuele-di-savoia-il-figlio-dellultimo-re-ditalia-scomparso-a-86-anni/|title=Chi era Vittorio Emanuele di Savoia, il figlio dell'ultimo re d'Italia scomparso a 86 anni|website=Fanpage.it|language=it|date=3 February 2024|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ideawebtv.it/2024/02/15/vittorio-emanuele-un-savoia-ribelle-che-non-studio-da-re/|title='Vittorio Emanuele un Savoia ribelle che non studiò da re'|website=Idea Web TV|language=it|date=15 February 2024|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref> In 1983, after the death of his father, with the support of the [[Italian Freemasonry]] (like many personalities of the Italian ruling class who promoted the repeal of the transitional provisions and the return to Italy, he was registered with [[Licio Gelli]]'s Masonic lodge [[Propaganda Due]] with membership number 1621),<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LYw5AQAAIAAJ&q=vittorio+emanuele+p2+licio+gelli |title=N/A|magazine=Oggi<!-- : settimanale di politica, attualità e cultura --> |date=1981 |publisher=Rizzoli Editore |language=it|access-date=22 December 2024|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Fruttero |first1=Carlo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YaBfXGrurHsC |title=La Patria, bene o male |last2=Gramellini |first2=Massimo |year=2011 <!-- 1 March --> |publisher=Edizioni Mondadori |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=YaBfXGrurHsC&pg=PT281&dq=vittorio+emanuele+p2+licio+gelli 281]|isbn=978-88-520-1742-1 |language=it|access-date=22 December 2024|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Franceschini|first=Enrico|url=https://www.repubblica.it/esteri/2024/02/03/news/vittorio_emanuele_savoia_morto_re_italia-422050035/|title=Vittorio Emanuele di Savoia, il 're mancato' che non ha mai smesso di aspirare al trono|work=La Repubblica|language=it|date=3 February 2024|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref> as well as scattered pieces of the Italian Monarchist Party, Vittorio Emanuele proclaimed himself King of Italy as Vittorio Emanuele IV and became the historical and political reference of the House of Savoy.<ref name="Turrini 2024">{{cite news|last=Turrini|first=Davide|date=3 February 2024|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2024/02/03/morto-vittorio-emanuele-di-savoia-dallesilio-agli-scandali-fino-allaccusa-di-omicidio-la-storia-del-re-ditalia-che-non-riusci-mai-a-salire-sul-trono/7432390/|title=Morto Vittorio Emanuele di Savoia: dall'esilio agli scandali fino all'accusa di omicidio, la storia del re d'Italia che non riuscì mai a salire sul trono|work=Il Fatto Quotidiano|language=it|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref> In 2002, statements were published in which he accepted the end of the monarchy,<ref>{{cite book |last=Feroldi |first=Alessandro |title=Lampi di vita. Storia di un principe in esilio |year=2002 |publisher=Rizzoli |location=Milan|pages=161, 207, 216|isbn=978-8-81787-047-4|quote='Io sono il primo ad accettare che in Italia ci sia la repubblica e non più la monarchia', [page 162, lines 9–10] ... 'Oggi come oggi non vedo l'utilità di riportare in Italia una corona' [page 207, lines 8–9] ... 'Sappiamo tutti che l'Italia non può più tornare ad essere una monarchia' [page 207, line 26] ... 'Ormai la monarchia in Italia non ha più ragione d'essere' [page 216, line 17].|trans-quote="I am the first to accept that in Italy there is a republic and no longer a monarchy" ... "Today I do not see the point of bringing a crown back to Italy" ... "We all know that Italy can no longer go back to being a monarchy" ... "By now the monarchy in Italy no longer has any reason to exist" ... .}}</ref> and both Vittorio Emanuele and his son [[Emanuele Filiberto, Prince of Venice and Piedmont|Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy]] swore loyalty to the Italian Republic and its president.<ref name="Corriere della Sera 2006"/>

In 1997, Vittorio Emanuele said on [[TG2]] that the [[antisemitic]] laws passed under Mussolini's regime were "not so bad".<!-- Video: https://www.ilgiornale.it/video/politica/vittorio-emanuele-savoia-minimizza-leggi-razziali-1844307.html --><ref name="Arie 2003">{{cite news |last=Arie |first=Sophie |title=Italy's Jews wait for royal apology |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA101936655&sid=sitemap&v=2.1&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7E9a16f98d&aty=open-web-entry |access-date=22 December 2024 |work=The Observer |date=18 May 2003|via=Gale}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Fiori|first=Simonetta|date=22 January 2021|url=https://www.repubblica.it/cultura/2021/01/22/news/leggi_razziali_le_scuse_dei_savoia-283811211/|title=Leggi razziali, le scuse dei Savoia|work=La Repubblica|language=it|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref> Vittorio Emanuele reconsidered his words the day after and spoke of a "grave mistake",<ref>{{cite news|last=Isman|first=Fabio|date=23 January 2021|url=https://www.ilmessaggero.it/politica/emanuele_filiberto_savoia_scuse_comunita_ebraica_cosa_ha_detto_leggi_razziali_ultime_notizie_news-5718580.html|title=Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia si scusa con la Comunità ebraica per le leggi razziali: 'Chiediamo perdono ma non lo pretendiamo'|work=Il Messaggero|language=it|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref> but he did not apologize.<ref>{{cite news|last=Vecellio|first=Valter|date=3 February 2024|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.it/politica/2024/02/03/news/quando_vittorio_emanuele_di_savoia_mi_disse_che_le_leggi_razziali_non_erano_cosi_gravi_e_non_chiese_scusa-14999310/|title=Quando Vittorio Emanuele di Savoia mi disse che le leggi razziali non erano così gravi. E non chiese scusa|work=HuffPost Italia|language=it|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref> In 2002, with a statement issued from Geneva on the same day the [[Italian racial laws]] of 1938 had been given [[royal assent]] by the king,<ref name="Del Frate 2021">{{cite news|last=Del Frate|first=Claudio|date=23 January 2021|url=https://www.corriere.it/politica/21_gennaio_22/emanuele-filiberto-chiede-scusa-leggi-razziali-cosa-furono-cosa-hanno-detto-savoia-5637667a-5cca-11eb-9977-f37e49990f1d.shtml|url-status=live|title=Emanuele Filiberto chiede scusa: le leggi razziali, cosa furono e cosa hanno detto i Savoia|work=Corriere della Sera|language=it|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226140817/https://www.corriere.it/politica/21_gennaio_22/emanuele-filiberto-chiede-scusa-leggi-razziali-cosa-furono-cosa-hanno-detto-savoia-5637667a-5cca-11eb-9977-f37e49990f1d.shtml|archive-date=26 February 2021|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref> for the first time in the history of the House of Savoy, Vittorio Emanuele officially distanced himself from the antisemitic laws,<ref name="Corriere della Sera 2006">{{cite news|url=https://www.corriere.it/Primo_Piano/Cronache/2006/06_Giugno/16/schedavittorio.html|title=Dai guai giudiziari al rientro in Italia|work=Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=16 June 2006|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref> and since then had tried to repair the damage by saying that the antisemitic laws had left "an indelible stain" and were the "darkest chapter" in his family's history.<ref name="Arie 2003"/> The 2002 statement read: "The date of 10 November, which until now represented for us the memory of an indelible stain on the history of the family, now constitutes, by a singular twist of fate, a new, fundamental stage towards the long-awaited return to the Homeland."<ref name="Del Frate 2021"/> When the Savoys returned to Italy in 2003, they were met with complaints that Vittorio Emanuele and his family had made no attempt at reconciliation with the Jewish community, which was not satisfied and continued to demand a "clear sign that they have rejected that period of history".<ref name="Arie 2003"/> In an interview with the ''[[Corriere della Sera]]'', the [[Union of Italian Jewish Communities]] president [[Amos Luzzatto]] stated: "I'm not saying it was he who signed the racial laws in 1938. But, as a Savoy heir, [Vittorio Emanuele] has never distanced himself from them."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tomgrossmedia.com/mideastdispatches/archives/000224.html|title=An Englishman in Auschwitz and other Holocaust articles|last=Gross|first=Tom|date=18 June 2003|website=Tom Gross Media|access-date=22 December 2024|archive-date=21 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061121121444/http://www.tomgrossmedia.com/mideastdispatches/archives/000224.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 27 January 2005, in a letter published by the ''Corriere della Sera'', Vittorio Emanuele issued an apology to Italy's Jewish population, asking forgiveness from the [[Italian Jewish]] community, and declaring that it was an error for the [[Italian royal family]] to have signed the racial laws of 1938.<ref>{{cite web|date=2006|url=http://antisemitism.tau.ac.il/asw2005/general-analysis.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070518023658/http://antisemitism.tau.ac.il/asw2005/general-analysis.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 May 2007|title=Antisemitism and Racism: Annual Report|publisher=Stephen Roth Institute}}</ref>

On 20 September 2018, during a celebration for the 100th anniversary of the Great War, Emanuele Filiberto stated: "The racial laws are a disgrace for Italy, for what happened."<ref name="Del Frate 2021"/> This was seen as a timid admission of guilt and was criticised by the local Jewish community. ''Shalom'', the organ of the Jewish Community of Rome, commented: "We don't like the words of Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy because they are ambiguous... and they want to water down responsibility. The racial laws are first and foremost a disgrace—not for Italy—but first and foremost for the House of Savoy which allowed without batting an eyelid—just to give an example—that dozens of Jewish officers who had served during the First World War, and who had been awarded Medals of Military Valor and who held positions of great responsibility, were expelled from the Royal Army."<ref name="Del Frate 2021"/> In January 2021, ahead of [[Holocaust Memorial Day]] in Italy, Emanuele Filiberto wrote a letter to Italy's Jewish community in which he said his family's role in rubber-stamping Mussolini's antisemitic laws caused "a wound still open for the whole of Italy", that he and his relatives "dissociate ourselves firmly" from Victor Emmanuel III who approved Mussolini's rise to power and gave the antisemitic laws royal assent, and asked for forgiveness for the king's actions. The letter was dismissed by historians as "too little too late", and was criticised by Jewish groups who condemned the family's lengthy reluctance to acknowledge its role in [[the Holocaust]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Mane|first=Saviona|title=Italian Jewish Community Rejects Apology by Fascist-era King's Heir for Race Laws |url=https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/2021-01-25/ty-article/.premium/great-grandson-of-italys-fascist-era-king-begs-forgiveness-for-race-laws/0000017f-e2d0-d9aa-afff-fbd852820000 |access-date=22 December 2024 |work=Haaretz |date=25 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Picheta|first1=Rob|last2=Di Donato|first2=Valentina |title='Too little, too late': Dethroned Italian prince criticized over apology for King's role in rubber-stamping fascist laws |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/27/europe/italy-monarchy-mussolini-apology-letter-scli-intl/index.html |access-date=22 December 2024 |agency=CNN |date=27 January 2021}}</ref> In the letter, Emanuele Filiberto stated: "I condemn the 1938 racial laws, all of whose weight I still feel on my shoulders to this day, and with me the whole royal house ... they are a disgrace for the entire Royal House of Savoy. ... We firmly dissociate ourselves, an unacceptable document, a wound still open for the entire country."<ref>{{cite news|date=23 January 2021|url=https://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/cronaca/emanuele-filiberto-condanno-le-leggi-razziali-del-1938-sono-unonta-per-tutta-la-real-casa-di-savoia_27884306-202102k.shtml|url-status=live|title=Emanuele Filiberto: 'Condanno le leggi razziali del 1938, sono un'onta per tutta la Real Casa di Savoia'|agency=TGcom24|language=it|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240721070312/https://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/cronaca/emanuele-filiberto-condanno-le-leggi-razziali-del-1938-sono-unonta-per-tutta-la-real-casa-di-savoia_27884306-202102k.shtml|archive-date=21 July 2024|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=24 January 2021|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/heir-of-italian-king-apologizes-for-monarchys-role-in-holocaust/|title=Heir of Italian king apologizes for monarchy's role in Holocaust|agency=Agence France-Presse|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref> Emanuele Filiberto told [[TG5]] that he was writing with "an open heart" a difficult letter whose contents "may surprise you and that perhaps you did not expect", and the time had come "once and for all" to "come to terms with the history and the past" of the Savoy family.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=23 January 2021|url=https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/savoy-prince-apologises-to-italys-jews-over-1938-racial-laws.html|title=Savoy prince apologises to Italy's Jews over 1938 racial laws|magazine=Wanted in Rome|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref>

Some of the activities, actions, and accusations of members of the House of Savoy, especially those of Vittorio Emanuele and his legal troubles,<ref name="Turrini 2024"/><ref name="La Stampa 2024">{{cite news|date=3 February 2024|url=https://www.lastampa.it/esteri/2024/02/03/news/vittorio_emanuele_e_le_vicende_giudiziarie-14042720/|title=È morto Vittorio Emanuele di Savoia, figlio dell'ultimo re d'Italia: aveva 86 anni|work=La Stampa|language=it|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=3 February 2024|url=https://www.lastampa.it/esteri/2024/02/03/news/vittorio_emanuele_e_le_vicende_giudiziarie-14042720/|title=Vittorio Emanuele e la giustizia: dall'accusa di omicidio a Vallettopoli. Unica condanna: porto abusivo d'armi|work=La Stampa|language=it|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref> evoked media coverage disappointing to Italian [[royalists]], including among its family members.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hooper |first=John |title=The fall of the house of Savoy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/jun/23/italy.johnhooper |access-date=22 December 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=23 June 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Meichtry |first=Stacy |date=27 June 2006|title=The Would-Be King Of Italy Turns Out To Be a Royal Pain |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB115137518129491522 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519041507/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB115137518129491522|archive-date=19 May 2021|access-date=22 December 2024 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> Vittorio Emanuele was a business intermediary on behalf of [[Agusta]] and thanks to his friendship with [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi]] concluded sales of helicopters between Italy, Iran, and other Arab countries. In the 1970s, he was investigated in [[Venice]] and [[Trento]] for international arms trafficking to some Middle Eastern countries under embargo. This case was later transferred to [[Rome]] but was later closed.<ref name="Corriere della Sera 2006"/> Most notably, in November 1991, after thirteen years of legal proceedings, the Paris [[Assize Court]] acquitted Vittorio Emanuele of the fatal wounding and [[unintentional homicide]] in August 1978 of [[Dirk Hamer]] (who was shot and killed while asleep on a yacht off [[Cavallo (island)|Cavallo]]),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sim.law.uu.nl/SIM/CaseLaw/Hof.nsf/d0cd2c2c444d8d94c12567c2002de990/f17b35d53bcc006dc1256640004c3306?OpenDocument|url-status=dead|title=Summary of trial proceedings concerned the killing of Dirk Hamer|date=2007|publisher=Netherlands Institute for Human Rights<!-- Studie- en Informatiecentrum Mensenrechten -->|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505080648/http://sim.law.uu.nl/SIM/CaseLaw/Hof.nsf/d0cd2c2c444d8d94c12567c2002de990/f17b35d53bcc006dc1256640004c3306?OpenDocument|archive-date=5 May 2008|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref> finding him guilty of unauthorised possession of a firearm during the incident;<ref name="La Stampa 2024"/> this proved to be his one and only conviction of all his legal troubles.<ref name="La Stampa 2024"/>

On 16 June 2006, Vittorio Emanuele was arrested in [[Varenna]], as investigators said he had contacts with the Mafia,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/24/world/europe/24briefs-003.html<!-- https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/24/world/europe/24briefs-003.html -->|title=Italy: Prince Put Under House Arrest|agency=Reuters|date=24 June 2006|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref> and imprisoned in [[Potenza]] on charges of [[political corruption]] and recruitment of prostitutes for clients of the [[Casinò di Campione]] of [[Campione d'Italia]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Bufi|first=Fulvio|date=16 June 2006|title=Arrestato Vittorio Emanuele di Savoia |work= Corriere della Sera |url=http://www.corriere.it/Primo_Piano/Cronache/2006/06_Giugno/16/savoia.shtml|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=17 June 2006 |title=Arrested Italy prince goes from palace to jail |agency=NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna13380673|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Popham|first=Peter|date=24 January 2007 |title=Italian justice: The prince and the prostitutes|work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/italian-justice-the-prince-and-the-prostitutes-6097514.html <!-- https://web.archive.org/web/20070124052425/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20060622/ai_n16494232 --> |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130222058/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/italian-justice-the-prince-and-the-prostitutes-6097514.html |archive-date=30 November 2023 |access-date=12 July 2018}}</ref> from which it emerged the ''Vallettopoli'' scandal.<ref>{{cite news |title=Vittorio Emanuele a giudizio |url=https://www.lastampa.it/cronaca/2009/09/23/news/vittorio-emanuele-a-giudizio-1.37059123/ |access-date=22 December 2024 |work=La Stampa |language=it|date=23 September 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://luigiboschi.it/argomenti/economia_e_finanza/cronaca_nera_e_giudiziaria/VITTORIO-EMANUELE-A-GIUDIZIO-ASSOCIAZIONE-A-DELINQUERE/|title=Vittorio Emanuele a giudizio, associazione a delinquere|agency=ANSA|language=it|date=24 September 2009|access-date=22 December 2024|via=LuigiBoschi.it}}</ref> After seven days in jail,<ref>{{cite news |title=Videopoker, assolto Vittorio Emanuele |url=https://www.lastampa.it/cronaca/2010/09/22/news/videopoker-assolto-vittorio-emanuele-1.37001644/ |access-date=22 December 2024 |work=La Stampa |language=it |date=22 September 2010}}</ref> Vittorio Emanuele was released and placed under house arrest instead;<!-- <ref>{{cite web |date=23 June 2006 |title=century 21 new york nyc at galleonpoint.com |website=Galleonpoint.com| url=http://www.galleonpoint.com/content/view/589/2/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528104102/http://www.galleonpoint.com/content/view/589/2/ |archive-date=28 May 2009 |access-date=12 July 2018}}</ref> --> both Vittorio Emanuele and his family denied any wrongdoings.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hooper|first=John|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/jun/17/italy.johnhooper|title=Italian king's son arrested over prostitution allegations|work=The Guardian|date=17 June 2006|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=O'Grady|first=Desmond|url=https://www.theage.com.au/world/the-savoy-who-would-be-king-cools-heels-in-jail-20060619-ge2joj.html|url-status=live|title=The Savoy who would be king cools heels in jail|work=The Age|date=17 June 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241222052540/https://www.theage.com.au/world/the-savoy-who-would-be-king-cools-heels-in-jail-20060619-ge2joj.html|archive-date=22 December 2024|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://gulfnews.com/world/europe/son-of-italys-last-king-sent-to-jail-in-southern-italy-1.241311|title=Son of Italy's last king sent to jail in southern Italy|agency=Associated Press|date=18 June 2006|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref> He was released from house arrest on 20 July but was required to remain within the territory of the Italian Republic; he was eventually acquitted of all charges,<ref>{{cite news |date=23 February 2015 |title=Vittorio Emanuele: 'Risarcimento per ingiusta detenzione in beneficenza' |url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2015/02/23/vittorio-emanuele-risarcimento-per-ingiusta-detenzione-in-beneficenza/1448796/ |access-date=25 November 2022 |work=Il Fatto Quotidiano |language=it}}</ref> including that of [[criminal association]] aimed at corruption,<ref>{{cite web |title=Potenza, Vittorio Emanuele rinviato a giudizio |url=https://tg24.sky.it/cronaca/2009/09/23/potenza_vittorio_emanuele_rinviato_a_giudizio_ |access-date=22 December 2024 |website=Sky TG24 |language=it|date=23 September 2009}}</ref> gambling,<ref>{{cite news |title=Potenza, Vittorio Emanuele rinviato a giudizio per associazione a delinquere |url=https://roma.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/10_giugno_25/procura-roma-processare-vittorio-emanuele-1703267640949.shtml |access-date=22 December 2024 |work=Corriere di Roma |language=it |date=25 June 2010}}</ref> forgery ("against public administration, public faith, and property"),<ref>{{cite news |title='Vittorio Emanuele a giudizio' |url=https://www.corriere.it/cronache/08_luglio_04/vittorio_emanuele_fasano_cfab36a4-49a4-11dd-9284-00144f02aabc.shtml |access-date=22 December 2024 |work=Corriere della Sera |language=it |date=4 July 2008}}</ref> exploitation of prostitution,<ref>{{cite news |title=Potenza, Vittorio Emanuele rinviato a giudizio per associazione a delinquere |url=https://www.lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it/news/basilicata/50407/potenza-arrestato-vittorio-emanuele-di-savoia.html |access-date=22 December 2024 |work=La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno |language=it |date=16 June 2006}}</ref> and aiding and abetting,<ref>{{cite news |title=Potenza, Vittorio Emanuele rinviato a giudizio per associazione a delinquere |url=https://www.corriere.it/cronache/09_settembre_23/potenza_vittorio_emanuele_processo_3ff27f7e-a86a-11de-94a2-00144f02aabc.shtml |access-date=22 December 2024 |work=Corriere della Sera |language=it |date=23 September 2009}}</ref> in the Savoiagate trial,<ref>{{cite news |title=Videopoker, assolto Vittorio Emanuele |url=https://www.corriere.it/cronache/10_settembre_22/vittorio-emanuele-savoia-assolto-videopoker_9760f1fc-c649-11df-89af-00144f02aabe.shtml |access-date=22 December 2024 |work=Corriere della Sera |language=it |date=22 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Savoiagate, Vittorio Emanuele assolto |date=22 September 2010|url=http://www.affaritaliani.it/cronache/vittorio_emanuele_assolto220910.html |url-status=dead|website=Affaritaliani.it |language=it|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403204333/http://www.affaritaliani.it/cronache/vittorio_emanuele_assolto220910.html|archive-date=3 April 2015|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref> and in February 2015 obtained €40,000 in damages for his time in jail.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fulloni|first=Alessandro|title='In cella ma innocente': 40 mila euro di indennizzo per Vittorio Emanuele |url=https://www.corriere.it/cronache/15_febbraio_23/cella-ma-innocente-40-mila-euro-indennizzo-vittorio-emanuele-83fdb060-bb49-11e4-aa19-1dc436785f83.shtml |access-date=22 December 2024 |work=Corriere della Sera |language=it |date=23 February 2015}}</ref>

When incarcerated in June 2006, Vittorio Emanuele was recorded admitting,<ref>{{cite news |date=3 August 2017 |title=Vittorio Emanuele di Savoia, Cassazione: 'Responsabilità per omicidio Hamer, no al diritto all'oblio' |url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2017/08/03/vittorio-emanuele-di-savoia-cassazione-responsabilita-per-omicidio-hamer-no-al-diritto-alloblio/3774184/ |access-date=25 November 2022 |work=Il Fatto Quotidiano |language=it}}</ref> with regard to the killing of Hamer, that "I was in the wrong, but I put one over on those French judges"<!-- "I was in the wrong, ... but I must say I fooled them [the French judges]" -->,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/2006/09/sezioni/cronaca/vittorio-emanuele/vittorio-emanuele/vittorio-emanuele.html|title=Vittorio Emanuele, cimici in cella 'Ho fregato i giudici francesi'|work=La Repubblica|language=it|date=9 September 2006|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Altman|first=Alan|date=5 June 2008|url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1810834_1810842_1810756,00.html|title=Life After the Throne – A Royal Flush: Vittorio Emanuele|magazine=Time|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref> leading to a call from Hamer's sister Birgit for Vittorio Emanuele to be retried in Italy for the killing;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.galleonpoint.com/content/view/994/2/|url-status=dead|title=Prince's braggadocio spurs call for justice|website= Galleonpoint.com|date=12 September 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020013625/http://www.galleonpoint.com/content/view/994/2/|archive-date=20 October 2006|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref> in response to this and his father's arrest and charges in 2006, Emanuele Filiberto distanced himself from Vittorio Emanuele, saying that he does not share or support everything his father did,<ref>{{cite news |last=Coen|first=Leonardo|title=Emanuele Filiberto si dissocia dal padre 'Non condivido tutto quello che ha fatto'|url=https://www.repubblica.it/2006/06/sezioni/cronaca/vittorio-emanuele-5/emanuele-si-dissocia/emanuele-si-dissocia.html |access-date=22 December 2024 |work=La Repubblica |language=it |date=27 June 2006}}</ref> while Amedeo of Savoy stated that Vittorio Emanuele's claims to the Headship of House Savoy were "in presence of facts that can injure the Royal House".<ref>{{cite web|title=Trial for Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy|url=https://www.theroyalforums.com/news/11708-trial-for-vittorio-emanuele-of-savoy/ |access-date=22 December 2024 |website=The Royal Forums |date=25 September 2009}}</ref> After a long legal fight, Birgit Hamer obtained the full video.<ref>{{cite news |last=Borromeo|first=Beatrice|date=24 February 2011 |title=Il video che incastra Savoia |url=http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2011/02/24/il-video-che-incastra-savoia/93668/ |access-date=25 November 2022 |work=Il Fatto Quotidiano |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Follain|first=John|date=27 February 2011|url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/world_news/Europe/article563655.ece|url-status=live|title=Prince admits killing on video|work=The Sunday Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310193028/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/world_news/Europe/article563655.ece|archive-date=10 March 2016|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref> The story was broken in the press by ''[[Il Fatto Quotidiano]]'' with an article by aristocratic journalist [[Beatrice Borromeo]], who also wrote the preface for a book on the murder ''Delitto senza castigo'' by Birgit Hamer.<ref name="¡Hola! 2015">{{cite magazine |date=10 March 2015 |title=Beatrice Borromeo, el azote de Víctor Manuel de Saboya |url=https://www.hola.com/realeza/casa_monaco/2015031077373/beatrice-borromeo-saboya/ |access-date=25 November 2022 |magazine=¡Hola! |language=es}}</ref> Vittorio Emanuele sued the newspaper for defamation, claiming the video had been manipulated.<ref>{{cite news |last=Borromeo|first=Beatrice|date=17 March 2011 |title=Omicidio Hamer, Emanuele Filiberto casca dalle nuvole|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2011/03/17/omicidio-hamer-emanuele-filiberto-casca-dalle-nuvole/98365/ |access-date=25 November 2022 |work=Il Fatto Quotidiano |language=it}}</ref> In March 2015, a court judgement ruled in favour of ''Il Fatto Quotidiano''.<ref name="¡Hola! 2015"/> In August 2017, Italy's [[Supreme Court of Cassation (Italy)|Supreme Court of Cassation]] acquitted ''[[La Repubblica]]'' journalists Maurizio Crosetti and [[Ezio Mauro]] of a defamation lawsuit brought by Vittorio Emanuele, who had been referred to by Crosetti and Mauro as "the one who used" with ease the rifle at Cavallo, "killing a man". Crosetti and Mauro, who was also sued for omitted control due to being the then editor-in-chief, had been convicted in the first-instance trial but were acquitted on appeal, a sentence that the Supreme Court of Cassation confirmed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Savoia, la Cassazione: Vittorio Emanuele ha colpa per la morte di Hamer|date=3 August 2017|url=https://www.affaritaliani.it/cronache/savoia-la-cassazione-vittorio-emanuele-ha-colpa-per-la-morte-di-hamer-493513.html|website=Affaritaliani.it |language=it|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref> In the summer of 2023, ''The Prince'', a docuseries directed by Borromeo and focused on the death of Hamer, was released on [[Netflix]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=De Tommasi|first=Alessandra|date=7 July 2023|url=https://www.vanityfair.it/article/principe-serie-netflix-vittorio-emanuele-di-savoia-recensione|title=Il principe, la docuserie Netflix su Vittorio Emanuele di Savoia, è una riflessione sul privilegio|magazine=Vanity Fair Italia|language=it|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Novella De Luca |first=Maria |title=Vittorio Emanuele: processi, armi e jet set la vita spericolata del principe senza corona |url=https://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2024/02/04/news/vittorio_emanuele_savoia_morto-422051696/ |access-date=22 December 2024 |work=La Repubblica |language=it|date=4 February 2024}}</ref> The docuseries concluded with Vittorio Emanuele declaring that he had no regrets and that he would do everything he had done in his life again "except Cavallu", referencing the events at Cavallo.<ref name="Turrini 2024"/>

In late 2007, lawyers representing Vittorio Emanuele and his son Emanuele Filiberto wrote a seven-page letter to then Italian president [[Giorgio Napolitano]] and Italian prime minister [[Romano Prodi]] seeking damages for their years in exile (€260 million without considering [[interest]]) and the return of their seized property after the war.<ref>{{cite news |date=20 November 2007 |title=I Savoia chiedono i danni all'Italia |url=https://www.lastampa.it/cronaca/2007/11/20/news/i-savoia-chiedono-i-danni-all-italia-1.37115549/ |access-date=12 December 2024 |work=La Stampa |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Morali |first=Danni |date=20 November 2007 |title=I Savoia chiedono 260 milioni allo Stato |work=Corriere Della Sera |language=it|url=https://www.corriere.it/cronache/07_novembre_20/savoia_danni_governo_ee8a5368-978c-11dc-9cff-0003ba99c53b.shtml |access-date=18 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=21 November 2007 |url=https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/savoys-ask-for-damages.html<!-- https://www.wantedinrome.com/?id_n=3846 -->|url-status=live|title=Savoys ask for damages <!-- Wanted in Rome {{!}} Italy's news in English --> |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810220256/https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/savoys-ask-for-damages.html|archive-date=10 August 2020|access-date=22 December 2024 |magazine=Wanted in Rome }}</ref> This was confirmed during an interview on the [[Rai 3]] popular affairs programme ''Ballarò'', where Emanuele Filiberto also stated that the seized property including Roman landmarks, such as the [[Quirinale]] palace and [[Villa Ada]], should be returned to the Savoy family.<ref>{{cite web |date=22 November 2007 |title=Savoys ask Italy to pay compensation for exile |url=https://www.italymagazine.com/featured-story/savoys-ask-italy-pay-compensation-exile |access-date=22 December 2024 |website=Italy Magazine}}</ref> The Italian prime minister's office released a statement stating that the Savoys are not owed any damages and suggesting that Italy may demand damages from the Savoys for their collusion with Mussolini and its wartime conduct.<ref>{{cite news |date=22 November 2007 |title=Italy's ex-royal family sues state for WW II reparations |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/italy-s-ex-royal-family-sues-state-for-ww-ii-reparations-1.687246 |access-date=22 December 2024 |via=CBC |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> The Italian Constitution contains a clause stripping the Savoys of their wealth on exile. Emanuele Filiberto acknowledged that his fiancée, whose pregnancy was revealed at the time of the couple's engagement, belonged to a more leftist milieu than his own, a fact that initially displeased his father.<ref>{{cite news |title=<!-- BBC News – Europe – -->Italian 'prince' weds actress |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3140408.stm|url-status=dead|agency=BBC|date=25 September 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241205001048/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3140408.stm|archive-date=5 December 2024|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref> On 17 December 2017, the body of Victor Emmanuel III returned to Italy to be buried at the [[Sanctuary of Vicoforte]] in Piedmont.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://the-view-from-rome.blogautore.repubblica.it/2017/12/17/exiled-king-finally-returns-to-italy/index.html|title=Exiled king finally returns to Italy|work=La Repubblica|date=17 December 2017|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.lastampa.it/esteri/la-stampa-in-english/2017/12/18/news/remains-of-italian-king-victor-emmanuel-iii-return-to-italy-for-reburial-1.34084487|title=Remains of Italian king Victor Emmanuel III return to Italy for reburial|work=La Stampa|date=18 December 2017|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref>

Judicially separated since 1976, civilly divorced in 1982, and their marriage religiously annulled in 1987, Amedeo of Aosta's first wife, [[Princess Claude of Orléans]], revealed that she was aware that her husband fathered a child by another woman during their marriage.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gyWlj4M3L4EC|title=Anales De La Real Academia Matritense De Heráldica y Genealogía VI (2000-2001)|language=es|location=Madrid|publisher=RAMHG<!-- Real Academia Matritense de Heráldica y Genealogía -->|volume=VI|page= 230, footnote 116|access-date=22 December 2024|via=Google Books}}</ref> Aosta acknowledged paternity of another child, born out-of-wedlock in 2006 during his second marriage but agreed to contribute financially to the child's care only after being directed to do so by court order.<ref>{{cite news|date=3 May 2006|url=http://www.corriere.it/Primo_Piano/Cronache/2006/05_Maggio/03/duca.shtml|title=Amedeo padre di Ginevra. Lo dice il Dna|work=Corriere della Sera|language=it|access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref> The [[patrilineal]] lineage of the House of Savoy was reduced to four males between 1996 and 2009. In 2008, [[Aimone di Savoia Aosta (born 1967)|Aimone of Savoy-Aosta]] married [[Princess Olga Isabelle of Greece]], his second cousin, and they became the parents of sons Umberto and Amedeo, who were born respectively in 2009 and 2011. In 2019, Vittorio Emanuele issued a formal decree that modified the medieval law restricting succession to male heirs to place his granddaughter, [[Vittoria Cristina Chiara Adelaide Marie]], in the line of succession. Prince Aimone declared the change illegitimate, meaning the title would remain in male succession and transfer to the Savoy-Aosta branch led by Aimone.<ref>{{cite news| title=Paris Teenager's New Gig: Would-Be Queen of Italy. A Nation Shrugs |last=Horowitz | first=Jason | work=The New York Times | date=10 May 2021 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/09/world/europe/italy-house-of-savoy-royalty.html | access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Annuario della nobilità Italiana 2015-2020 XXXIII edizione parte I|location= Teglio|issn= 0393-6473|isbn=978-88-942861-0-6|last1= Borella|first1= Andrea|date= 2020}}</ref> As of 2022, the House of Savoy was in the process of trying to reclaim family jewels that have been owned by the Italian government since the abolition of the monarchy.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Vanderhoof |first=Erin |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2022/01/house-of-savoy-wants-their-crown-jewels-back |title=The House of Savoy, Italy's Former Royal Family, Wants Their Crown Jewels Back |magazine=Vanity Fair |date= 28 January 2022|access-date=20 February 2022}}</ref> Vittorio Emanuele died in February 2024,<ref name="Reuters 2024"/> and the House of Savoy announced: "Surrounded by his family, he died peacefully in Geneva."<ref name="La Stampa 2024"/>