Prince Amedeo of Savoy, Duke of Aosta, a member of the Italian royal family, has been making headlines recently due to his involvement in various charitable and philanthropic endeavors. Born on October 21, 1943, Prince Amedeo is the youngest son of King Umberto II of Italy and Queen Marie José of Belgium, making him a grandson of King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy. His family's rich history and influence in Italian politics have undoubtedly shaped his life and the roles he has taken on.
As the Duke of Aosta, Prince Amedeo has been actively involved in various charitable initiatives, particularly focusing on supporting the elderly and the disabled. His dedication to these causes has earned him recognition and respect from the Italian people and the international community alike. With his extensive experience in philanthropy and his royal lineage, Prince Amedeo is an influential figure in Italian society, and his contributions to the country's charitable landscape are undeniable1.
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| The Duke of Aosta. |
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| Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta, speaking with his first cousin King Michael of Romania at Sinaia.
Queen Anne-Marie of Greece and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia are in the background. |
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| King Juan Carlos of Spain with Prince Amedeo and Princess Silvia, Duke and Duchess of Aosta, as well as Prince Aimone, Duke of Apulia and his then-fiancée Princess Olga of Greece, 2008. |
Today, 1 June, Prince Amedeo of Savoy, 5th Duke of Aosta, died after going into cardiac arrest at San Donato Hospital in Arezzo. Earlier this year, Prince Amedeo had undergone major surgery at a clinic in Milan, after which he returned home to Castiglion Fibocchi. On 27 May, Amedeo was admitted to San Donato Hospital in Arezzo for minor surgery, which was completed successfully. He had been scheduled for release today; however, he suffered a fatal heart attack this morning. The announcement of the death of Prince Amedeo was made by the Aosta branch of the Royal House of Savoy. The Duke of Aosta was seventy-seven years-old. Amedeo was a first cousin of King Constantine II of the Hellenes, King Michael of Romania, Queen SofÃa of Spain, and Queen Alexandra of Yugoslavia. He descended from King Louis Philippe of the French, German Emperor Friedrich III, King George I of the Hellenes, and Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.
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| Princess Irene, Duchess of Aosta, with her infant son Prince Amedeo in 1943. |
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| Irene and Amedeo. |
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| Prince Amedeo and his mother Princess Irene. |
On 27 September 1943, Prince Amedeo Umberto Constantino Giorgio Paolo Elena Maria Fiorenzo Zvonimir of Savoy-Aosta was born at Florence. Amedeo was the only child of Prince Aimone of Savoy (1900-1948), 4th Duke of Aosta and erstwhile King of Croatia as Tomislav II, and his wife Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark (1904-1974), who married in 1939. Amedeo’s paternal grandparents were Prince Emanuele Filiberto, 2nd Duke of Aosta, and Princess Hélène d’Orléans. Amedeo’s maternal grandparents were King Constantine I of the Hellenes and Princess Sophie of Prussia. At the time of his birth, King Vittorio Emanuele III was the Italian monarch, and little Prince Amedeo was fourth in the line of succession to the Italian throne after the Prince of Piedmont, the Prince of Naples, and his father Aimone.
The engagement between Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta, and his second cousin Princess Claude d'Orléans was announced in September 1963. Princess Claude (b.Larache, Morocco 11 December 1943) was the ninth child and fifth daughter of Prince Henri, Count of Paris, and Princess Isabelle of Orléans-Braganza.
Prince Amedeo and Princess Claude were married on 22 July 1964 at Sintra, Portugal, in a beautiful ceremony attended by a myriad of their relatives and friends. King Umberto II of Italy was one of the chief guests.
Amedeo of Aosta and Claude d’Orléans were the parents of three children, one son and two daughters: Princess Bianca of Savoy-Aosta (b.Florence 2 April 1966; married in 1988 to Count Giberto Arrivabene-Valenti-Gonzaga; five children: Viola [b.1991], Vera [b.1993], Mafalda [b.1997], Maddalena [b.2000], and Leonardo [b.2001]); Prince Aimone of Savoy-Aosta, Duke of Apulia (b.Florence 13 October 1967; married in 2008 to Princess Olga of Greece; three children: Prince Umberto [b.2009], Prince Amedeo [b.2011], and Princess Isabella [b.2012]); and Princess Mafalda of Savoy-Aosta (b.Florence 20 September 1969; married 1stly in 1994 [divorced] to don Alessandro Ruffo di Calabria; married 2ndly in 2001 to Nobile Francesco Lombardo di San Chirico; three children: Anna [b.1999], Carlo [b.2001], and Elena [b.2003]). In addition to his three children with Princess Claude, the Duke of Aosta was also the father of Don Piero Incisa della Rocchetta (b.Florence 30 November 1967) with Nobile Nerina Corsini (1942-2014) and Ginevra van Ellinkhuizen (b.Milan 16 March 2006) with Kyara van Ellinkhuizen (b.1967).
The marital union of Amedeo and Claude deteriorated. The couple separated on 20 July 1976, they then obtained a civil divorce on 26 April 1982, and, finally, an annulment from the Holy See was granted on 8 January 1987.
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| The wedding of Prince Amedeo and Princess Silvia, Duke and Duchess of Aosta, 1987. |
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| Prince Amedeo and Princess Silvia, Duke and Duchess of Aosta. |
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| Amedeo and Silvia. |
On 30 March 1987, Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta married donna Silvia Paternò di Spedalotto dei Marchesi di Reggiovanni (b.Palermo 31 December 1953). The couple did not have children. After a marriage of thirty-four years, Princess Silvia of Savoy, Duchess of Aosta, is a widow. Prince Amedeo is survived by his wife Princess Silvia, his five children, and his eleven grandchildren. The funeral of Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta, will take on Friday, 4 June, at 11:30 AM in Florence at the Chiesa di San Miniato al Monte.
Per arrangements made prior to his death, Prince Amedeo of Savoy will be buried in Tuscany. However, whenever Princess Silvia passes away, the couple will both be buried at Superga in Turin.
As we conclude our reflection on the life and legacy of Prince Amedeo of Savoy, Duke of Aosta, we are reminded of the significant impact he had on the world around him. His dedication to his family, his country, and his people left an indelible mark that will be remembered for generations to come. Through his tireless efforts in philanthropy and his commitment to his royal duties, Prince Amedeo embodied the values of compassion, honor, and duty that are at the heart of the House of Savoy. His story serves as a testament to the enduring power of these values and the lasting influence they can have on those who are touched by them.
As we bid farewell to this remarkable individual, we are left to ponder the lessons he has taught us. His life was marked by both triumph and tragedy, but it was his unwavering commitment to his principles that ultimately defined him. Through his struggles and his triumphs, Prince Amedeo showed us that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope and always a way forward. His legacy will continue to inspire and motivate those who come after him, and his memory will remain a beacon of light in the darkness. May we all strive to emulate his example and to live our lives with the same sense of purpose and dedication that characterized his own.
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