Marina Doria, the steadfast wife of Victor-Emmanuel of Savoy

He appeared in the square in front of Turin Cathedral wearing tinted glasses. Marina Doria did attend the funeral of her husband, Victor-Emmanuel of Savoy, this Saturday, February 10. The son of the last king of Italy died a week ago, at the age of 86, after a ten-day hospitalization in Geneva. An ordeal during which Marina de Savoie was able to count on the support of their only son, Emmanuel-Filiber, daughter-in-law, Clotilde Curau, and granddaughters, 20-year-old Vitoria and 17-year-old Louise.

All her life, the 88-year-old widow, however, was considered the pillar of the family. In particular, at the heart of many scandals of her husband, Victor-Emmanuel Savoy. Born Marina Ricolfi Doria on February 12, 1935 in Geneva, she met her husband twenty years later while at the Crans-Montana ski resort. The life of this young woman from a family of five, raised by an Italian-born Swiss banker father, René Italo Ricolfi Doria, and a mother from Pallanza, Piedmont, would be forever changed.

Water skiing champion

When he met Victor-Emmanuel of Savoy, more than a decade had passed since he fled Italy in June 1946 after his fellow citizens voted for a republic. A refugee in Helvetia, the young man does not lead a regulated life. This speed lover almost killed himself at the wheel of his Ferrari and ended up in the hospital several times. The taste of risk that does not scare Marina Doria. They will face many trials together. Including in their surroundings.

A former courtier of German millionaire Gunther Sachs, she struggles to find favor with her father-in-law, Humbert II, Italy’s last sovereign. And this despite his impressive career. In 1957, Marina Doria became the first European water skier to win a gold medal at the World Championships. A competition in which he already won a silver medal two years ago. He won a total of four world titles between 1953 and 1957, twelve European titles and twenty-three Swiss titles during his career. But also integrated Hall of Fame 1991 of the International Water Skiing Federation.

Forbidden love

It would take more to impress Humbert II, who is skeptical of this young woman who was not of noble birth. “I think he expected something different from his son,” Marina de Savoia said. It is normal. It’s a very traditional family. He should have expected his son to marry a princess of royal blood.’ It is not important. Victor-Emmanuel of Savoy is not one to let his behavior be dictated to him. And find a way around this barrier.

In 1969, he signed a decree declaring himself king, and then created the title of duchess specifically for Marina Doria. She married the latter in 1970, in Las Vegas, against her father’s advice. On October 7, 1971, their religious marriage was celebrated in Tehran. The couple had a son, Emmanuel-Philibert, in 1972. However, their family faced many difficulties. Scandals during which Marina de Savoia will remain her husband’s rock.

“heavy load”

On a sunny day in 1978, the couple were staying at their home in Cavallo, Corsica, when Victor-Emmanuel discovered that an Italian boatman had stolen a boat moored to his yacht. Then he flies into a rage. He threatens the boatman with his rifle. During the dispute, one of his shots injured 19-year-old German Dirk Gerd Hamer, who was at the scene. A few weeks later, the young man died. The incident became international news.

A long legal process then began, which ended in 1991 at the Paris Court of Appeal. The prince is acquitted of murder, but convicted of violating the gun law. Facing this test, Marina de Savoie acts as a pillar for her husband. “We probably wanted to spare my father,” argued their son Emmanuel-Philibert de Savoie in the press. It was my mother who had to face it. From that moment on, he had to carry a much heavier burden than he had to carry before.’

More trouble with the law followed, most notably in 2006 when Victor-Emmanuel de Savoie was involved in a pimping case in the management of a casino near Lake Como. Then he was sentenced to one week of imprisonment and one month of house arrest in Italy. Marina de Savoia will never stop publicly defending him.

“The most important day”.

Apart from these scandals, fortunately, the couple experienced some moments of happiness. Marina de Savoia thus stood by her husband at the airport in Rome when he improvised a press conference in 2002. Italy’s parliament has just voted to lift Victor-Emmanuel de Savoie’s exile thanks to Silvio Berlusconi’s law. “It is the most important day for our family,” he calmly emphasizes. Extreme happiness for this couple who shared everything, joys and sorrows.

After the death of Victor-Emmanuel, Marina de Savoia now enjoys the support of their son Emmanuel-Philibert, who has become his own rock. He recently formulated Gala a desire to abdicate “when the time comes, maybe in ten or fifteen years” in favor of his eldest daughter, Vittoria. Now queen de jure (a Latin phrase often used for deposed royals whose lineage passes the torch but does not actually reign), Clotilda Curau, the latter’s wife, also supported her mother-in-law at Victor-Emmanuel’s funeral. Savoy, this week, February 10.