Princess Marie-José of Belgium was noted for being a strong woman who opposed Mussolini, and for being the last Queen of Italy.
I am posting this because on this day (January 8) in 1930, Crown Prince Umberto of Italy married Princess Marie-José of Belgium in Rome. Marie-José is famous for being the last Queen of Italy.
Challenging early years
Born on August 4, 1906, in Ostend, Belgium, Marie-José was the youngest child of King Albert I and Queen Elisabeth of Belgium. She grew up in a simple and modern royal family, and received education in England, Italy and Belgium. For example, during the First World War she was evacuated to England where she was a boarding pupil at the Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School in Brentwood, Essex.
Unsurprisingly, her early years were marked by the tragedy of World War I, during which her family played a crucial role in supporting Belgium. Her father, King Albert I, was a symbol of resistance, and her mother, Queen Elisabeth, worked tirelessly for the welfare of soldiers and civilians alike. These formative experiences instilled in Marie-José a deep sense of duty and compassion.
Marriage and move to Italy
In 1930, Marie-José married Crown Prince Umberto of Italy, the heir to the Italian throne.
It was a fairy-tale wedding at the Quirinal Palace in Rome. The union was seen as a symbol of reconciliation between Belgium and Italy after the tensions of World War I. Marie-José fully embraced her role as Crown Princess, but the marriage was never considered a particularly happy one. They had four children.
“I don’t have much to do with the House of Savoy. It’s not a family, it’s a Frigidaire.” (refrigerator)
Princess Marie-José of Belgium
The Second World War
By the late 1930s Marie-José realized that Mussolini was intent on leading the country to ruin. She made contact with his opponents, and is reported to have supplied the Italian resistance with arms and money. In 1940 she met Hitler and pleaded for the release of food to the starving Belgians, and for a more humane treatment for her imprisoned brother King Leopold III of Belgium – both to no avail. Later she said that if she had a pistol she might have killed Hitler.
The May Queen – for 27 days
On May 9, 1946, her father-in-law, King Vittorio Emanuele III, abdicated in favor of Marie-José’s husband, Umberto II. She became the Queen of Italy: known as the “May Queen”.
However, their reign was short-lived: a mere 27 days. The following month, on June 2, 1946, the Italian people voted to abolish the monarchy in a referendum. She and her family had to leave Italy and live in exile, initially in Portugal. However, by then the couple had drifted apart. The ex-king remained in Portugal; Marie-José moved in Switzerland.
Life outside the monarchy
Marie-José never gave up her hope of returning to Italy, and maintained her interest in Italian affairs. She devoted herself to humanitarian causes, such as the Red Cross and the World Wildlife Fund. She was also a patron of arts and culture, and supported many Italian artists and writers. Her marriage endured until Umberto’s death in 1983.
Death and memory
On January 27, 2001, Princess Marie-José passed away in Geneva, Switzerland, aged 94. She was buried in Hautecombe Abbey, France, alongside her husband and other members of the House of Savoy. The funeral was attended by 2,000 mourners, including King Albert II of Belgium and King Juan Carlos I of Spain. She is remembered as a remarkable and radical royal, who left a lasting mark in the history of Italy.
New movie coming
Queen Marie-José and Italy’s Royal House of Savoy is the subject of a forthcoming movie by Chinese director, writer and producer Yi Zhou.
“The story of Queen Marie-José is sweepingly epic, and embedded in every layer are dramatic twists, many with weighty historical significance and ramifications. This is a certainly a case where real life bests fiction and it’s for these reasons I am compelled to bring this fascinating story to life.”
Li Zhou
I created Discovering Belgium in 2011 to share the country’s hidden stories, fascinating places, and remarkable people. Through articles, photography, and audio walks, I share discoveries that reveal Belgium beyond the obvious. Hope you enjoy this site.
All of her pictures show a lovely woman–she sounds like a very remarkable person.
Yes, to meet both Mussolini and Hitler would have been interesting too.
Fascinating.
She has a very determined look in every one of those photos.
You’re right there Anabel.
I’ll keep an eye out for that movie in the future. I love movies that tell true stories about remarkable people. She must have been a resilient person.
I’ll let you know if I hear any news about when it’s to be released Carol.
She seems like a formidable woman, I love the old photos of her, I think you can see the steel in her eyes.
What a life she led and the people she met! Thanks for your comment Andrea.