Princess Vittoria of Savoy

Vittoria Cristina Adelaide Chiara Maria di Savoia (born 28 December 2003) is the daughter and heir apparent to Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, Prince of Venice, who is a claimant to the headship of the House of Savoy.

The headship of the house of Savoy is currently disputed by Aimone di Savoia Aosta, a descendant of Victor Emmanuel II's younger son, Amadeo I of Spain. The origins of the dispute stem from Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples's marriage to Marina Doria, which Aimone's father, Amadeo claimed was done without the permission of Umberto II, therefore excluding Vittorio Emanuele and all of his descendants from succeeding to the headship of the House of Savoy.

As the succession laws of the House of Savoy only permitted males to succeed in their domains, a woman succeeding to the headship of the House of Savoy is unprecedented. In 2019, Vittorio Emanuele, Vittoria's grandfather, proclaimed that the laws of the House of Savoy were to be changed, and Vittoria was placed as second in line to the headship of the house of Savoy, behind her father.

Early life and family
Vittoria was born on 28 December 2003 in Geneva, Switzerland. Her father Emanuele Filiberto, Prince of Venice was then the disputed heir apparent to the Italian throne and her mother Clotilde Courau is a French actress. Her younger sister Luisa was born in 2006. She is the granddaughter of Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples, the disputed head of the House of Savoy, and his wife Marina Doria. Her great-grandfather, King Umberto II was the last King of Italy before the monarchy was abolished in a 1946 referendum. Her great-grandmother was Marie-José of Belgium, the last Queen of Italy.

Christening
She was christened on 30 May 2004 by cardinal Giovanni Cheli at the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi in Assisi. Her godparents were Ottavio Mazzola and Roberta Fabbri. The baby wore the christening gown that had been worn by her great-great-grandfather King Vittorio Emanuele III at his christening on 30 November 1869. Among the guests were Prince Albert of Monaco, Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy, Prince Sergius of Yugoslavia and Princess Mafalda of Hesse, granddaughter of Princess Mafalda of Savoy. The parents selected Assisi in light of its symbolism of peace.

Succession
In 2019 Vittoria's grandfather, Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples, changed the rules of succession which previously only allowed males to be the heir to the throne. Under the rule changes, Vittoria, as the firstborn child of her father, will one day succeed him as the disputed head of the House of Savoy. Her parents had never produced a male heir but had two daughters. Despite being the disputed heir to the now-defunct Italian throne, she lives in Paris in neighbouring France. The current line of succession within the House of Savoy is disputed by Prince Aimone, 6th Duke of Aosta.

In June 2023, her father Emanuele Filiberto, Prince of Venice announced he would renounce his claim as disputed heir apparent in favour of Vittoria, however he has yet to formally do so. If he does, that would make Vittoria the claimed Duchess of Savoy and disputed head of the House of Savoy pretender to the throne of Italy.

On 8 October 2023, she was made a member of the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation, being the first female ever to be admitted into the order, which was established in 1362.

Honours

 * House of Savoy: Knight of the Royal Order of the Most Holy Annunciation (2023)
 * House of Savoy: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (2021)
 * Sovereign Military Order of Malta: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (2023)