ITALY: AFTER 57 YEARS IN EXILE, THE HEIRS TO THE THRONE OF SAVOY ARE GREETED BY PROTESTS AS THEY ARRIVE IN NAPLES FOR A THREE DAY VISIT.

Record ID: 648141

  • Title: ITALY: AFTER 57 YEARS IN EXILE, THE HEIRS TO THE THRONE OF SAVOY ARE GREETED BY PROTESTS AS THEY ARRIVE IN NAPLES FOR A THREE DAY VISIT.
  • Date: 15th March 2003
  • Summary: (U6) NAPLES, ITALY (MARCH 15,2003) (REUTERS) 1. VARIOUS: JOURNALISTS AND PEOPLE WAITING AT NAPLES AIRPORT, WITH SAVOY FLAGS. (6 SHOTS) 0.23 2. VARIOUS: ARRIVAL OF SAVOY FAMILY, FATHER VITTORIO EMANUELE, WIFE MARINA DORIA AND SON EMANUELE FILBERTO. (2 SHOTS) 1.02 3. VARIOUS: (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) EMANUELE FILIBERTO, SON, SAYING: Today is the most beautiful day of our lives. Finally, after many years, we can return to our beloved homeland. I have always dreamed this moment as far back as I can remember. But, unfortunately, this return takes place in a terrible moment for the entire world. I deeply feel the pain of many people who are not in a condition to celebrate anything. And I am close to them on this day: those who live in exile, far from their beloved homeland, and those who suffer from poverty and lack of liberty. And, I wish them the same luck we have had because, finally, our chapter of exile has ended forever. And, now the chapter of our commitment has started. So, those people can hope for a better future. Long live Italy." 2.10 4. VARIOUS:EXTERIOR CATHEDRAL WITH ANTI-SAVOY DEMONSTRATORS, WITH FLAGS OF RIVAL DYNASTY, BOURBONS, WHICH ONCE RULED KINGDOM OF NAPLES DEMONSTRATING OUTSIDE. 2.22 5. VARIOUS: INTERIOR CATHEDRAL, GUESTS WATING FOR FAMILY'S ARRIVAL. (5 SHOTS) 2.47 6. WS: EXTERIOR CATHEDRAL WITH FLAGS AND BANNERS. 2.50 7. VARIOUS: GROUP OF PEOPLE BURNING A FLAG WITH THE SAVOY COAT OF ARMS; GIRL HOLDING BANNER SAYING 'SLAUGHTERERS OF THE SOUTH, TRAITORS OF THE ITALIANS' AND MORE OF DEMONSTRATION.(3 SHOTS) 3.34 8. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) MARCO DE FRANCESCO, WRITER FOR ITALIAN RIGHT-WING MAGAZINE SAYING "The Savoys created the premise for a civil war. And, by running away, they left the Italians undefended, betraying the responsibility that a true King or aristocrat would never, never do. The Bourbons fought with dignity until the end. We will only remember the Savoys for their flights. Like this one today, they didn't come and didn't enter through the main entrance. 4.00 9. LAS/MV: PEOPLE WAVING BANNERS READING: 'SLAUGHTERERS' 4.04 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 30th March 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NAPLES, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVA3WGVG57CVCDVX25EI1YP0WM52
  • Story Text: After 57 years in exile, Italy's heirs to the throne,
    the Savoys - have arrived in the Mediterranean port city of
    Naples for a three-day visit. But their return has been marred
    by a protest, forcing the family to cancel a mass in their
    honour at the city's cathedral.



    After 57 years in exile, Italy's heirs to the throne,
    the Savoys, arrived in the Mediterranean port city of Naples
    on Saturday (March 15) on their second visit to their homeland.

    Italy's parliament last year lifted a ban imposed on the
    male heirs of the Savoy royal family after World War Two for
    the then-monarch's collaboration with fascist dictator Benito
    Mussolini.

    Now 65, the prince, his wife, Marina Doria, and his
    30-year-old son, Emanuele Filiberto, were greeted at the
    airport by about 100 royalists waving the flag of Kingdom of Italy,
    which bears the Savoy coat of arms.

    "Today is the most beautiful day of our lives. Finally,
    after many years, we can return to our beloved homeland. I
    have always dreamed this moment as far back as I can remember,"
    said Emanuele Filiberto, son of Prince Vittorio Emanuele who was
    the grandson of Italy's last king.

    "But, unfortunately, this return takes place in a terrible
    moment for the entire world. I deeply feel the pain of many
    people who are not in a condition to celebrate anything. And I
    am close to them on this day: those who live in exile, far
    from their beloved homeland, and those who suffer from poverty and
    lack of liberty. And, I wish them the same luck we have had
    because, finally, our chapter of exile has ended forever. And,
    now the chapter of our commitment has started. So, those
    people can hope for a better future. Long live Italy." he said.

    His father, Vittorio Emanuele was nine years old when he
    sailed out of the Bay of Naples to go into exile with his
    family. The family now live in Geneva, Switzerland.

    But the family's return was marred by a protest of anti-Savoys
    outside the city's cathedral, forcing the family to
    cancel a mass to be held in their honour.

    Protesters, who included supporters of a rival royal
    dynasty, the Bourbons, who once ruled the Kingdom of Naples, waved
    banners saying slaughterers of the south, traitors of Italy.

    And a protester from an extreme right wing group burned a
    flag with the family's coat of arms.

    "The Savoys created the premise for the civil war. And, by
    running away they, left the Italians undefended, betraying the
    responsibility that a true King or aristocrat would never,
    never do," said Marco De Francesco, a writer for an Italian
    right-wing magazine.

    "The Bourbons fought with dignity until the end. We will
    only remember the Savoys for their flights. Like this one
    today, they didn't come and didnt enter through the main entrance,"
    he said.

    The family also planned to visit family tombs, eat pizza
    and attend gala dinners during their three-day visit. In
    December last year, they paid a five-hour trip to Rome for an
    audience with Pope John Paul.




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