ROME, ITALY, MARCH 15, 1983 (FIORI)
1. GV PAN House of Deputies debating permission for return of king Umberto to italy. (ITALIAN SOT) (5 SHOTS) 0.53
FILE: WEST GERMANY, 1958 (MUTE) (VISLIB)
2. SV Ex-King Umberto and Queen Frederika of Greece at wedding. (3 shots) 1.01
FILE: UK, 1963:
3. GV Plane taxiing at airport in london, king stepping off plane, greeted by officials. (3 shots) 1.11
InitialsRdeL/JRS


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Background: ROME, ITALY/WEST GERMANY/LONDON, UK

In Rome members of the House of Deputies debated a constitutional reform on March 15 to allow former King Umberto to return to his homeland. The 78-year-old king who has been in exile for 37 years, reigned for less than one month in 1946 and refused to recognised the republic. He made it known recently that he would like to return to Italy before he died. Ex-King Umberto has been seriously ill for several months, and is now in Geneva receiving treatment for bone cancer. His desire to return to his homeland has created a political problem. The bill to allow him to return would abrogate the clause in the constitution that neither the king, nor his male descendants, be permitted to enter Italy. To alter the constitution, both houses of parliament would have to give their approval, and after 90 days, vote again. Most member were in favour of allowing the former monarch to return as an ordinary citizen, and justice Minister Clelio Darido suggested that parliament itself could grant a brief residence permit. Another suggestion was that ex-King Umberto be permitted to reside in extra territorial property within Italy, such as Vatican City or the headquarters of the Knights of Malta. While in exile, he was often the guest of other branches of European royal families, and in 1958, attended the wedding of the Duchess of Wurtemburg and the Prince of Bourbon-Sizilien in West Germany. The former Italian monarch is seen here with Queen Frederika of Greece. In 1963, he visited Britain, for another wedding.

Source: REUTERS - ANGELO FRIORI AND REUTERS LIBRARY