Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Prince Umberto of Savoy is baptised

Prince Umberto of Savoy, the son of the Duke and Duchess of Apulia, was baptised on July 19.

http://www.crocerealedisavoia.it/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=137&Itemid=0&lang=italian

The infant prince was baptised by HRH Prince Alessandro of Bourbon-Two-Sicilies, a Roman Catholic priest. Prince Alessandro is a second cousin of the Duke of Apulia, as Alessandro's mother, Princess Maria Cristina of Savoy-Aosta, and Prince Aimone's father, the Duke of Aosta, are first cousins. Father Alessandro is also related to Umberto's mother, Princess Olga of Greece. His maternal grandmother, Princess Anne of Orleans, was the older sister of Princess Francoise, who married Prince Christopher of Greece. Francoise and Christopher were the parents of Prince Michael, the father of Princess Olga. There is another family connection through the Greeks. Prince Christopher's niece, Irene, married Prince Aimone of Savoy, Duke of Aosta, and their only son, Amedeo, is the present Duke of Aosta, and Umberto's grandfather.

Prince Umberto's godparents are Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy, for whom Princess Bianca of Savoy stood proxy and Count Carlo Radicati di Primeglio.
The guests at the ceremony, which took place in the Apulian village of Giuggianello, near Lecce, included the Duke of Apulia's two sisters, Bianca and Mafalda and their families, the Duke and Duchess of Aosta, Prince Michael and Princess Marina of Greece, Princess Alexandra of Greece and her family, Prince Casimir and Princess Maria Cristina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and Don Alvaro-Jaime of Orleans-Borbon and his wife, Antonella. Prince Aimone and Princess Olga were present in Spain for the baptism of Alvaro-Jaime and Antonella's daughter, Eulalia.
It appears that the Duke of Apulia's mother, Princess Claude of France was not present. Claude provides yet another family genealogical connection to her grandson. Her father, Prince Henri, Count of Paris, was the brother of Princess Anne and Princess Francoise.

5 comments:

Cabri said...

So who you think is the rightful head of the Savoy family? You use the Aosta titles for the child's father and grandfather while youc all Umberto prince of Savoy and not of Savoy-Aosta.

Isn't it typical of the non-ruling family... quite a lot of them allow them the luxury of a family quarral about a non-existing throne and headship of the family.

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

It is a rather moot point because there is not throne, but there is the evidence that King Umberto did not intend for his son or grandson or succeed - and thankfully, the grandson has only daughters, so I am going with the duke of Aosta.

Cabri said...

thanks Marlene

at least the Aosta branch is doing a great PR job. One does not see much from the other side, except from VE but that is not very positive news.

One can ebsure that this drags on for at least another generation: maybe they opt then for the Georgian solution -)

Anonymous said...

Can I see pictures about Princess Alvaro and Antonella of Orleans-Bourbon(princess of French Royal family of Orleans) at Giuggianello bauptism, Prince Umberto of Savoy-Aosta?
Thanks

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

I believe the article on the baptism in Point de Vue showed the couple. You also might check the Amedeo's official website.