King Umberto II of Italy & Marie Jose

[RomanovsFan4Ever]

I think that it is an Infantry Colonel's uniform...right?...

[RomanovsFan4Ever]

By the way, I have to add something to my post #104 about King Umberto's orders:

He also received the Grand Cross of the Black Eagle at the Berlin summer Olympics in 1936.

[Eric_Lowe]

Thanks ! Did he wore it in Berlin ?

[RomanovsFan4Ever]

I think so, precisely he received it during the ceremony of closure of the Berlin Olympics on August 16.

[RomanovsFan4Ever]

You're welcome!

King Umberto II with Princess Maria Pia and Prince Vittorio Emanuele.

[RomanovsFan4Ever]

I have no idea, but I will try to find out.

King Umberto during the WWII:

[Eric_Lowe]

Nice. I often wondered how close Umberto II was with the Musolini regime and how much the monarchy suffered because of its association of it.

[RomanovsFan4Ever]

I have often read that, actually, Mussolini haven't sympathy for Umberto, and probably the feeling of distrust was reciprocated by Umberto.
It's also know that Umberto detested Hitler with all his soul.
Monarchy and Fascism coexisted, but not in a relaxed climate.

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes. I Think Hitler did not have much respect for the Savoys. His treatment of Umberto's sister Madfalda was an example.

[RomanovsFan4Ever]

Elderly Umberto with Pope Giovanni Paolo II.

[Eric_Lowe]

Wow ! Thanks for posting this rare photo. Umberto looked frail here. It was taken in the ?

[RomanovsFan4Ever]

It should have been taken just a few years before his death, my guess is around 1980.

[Eric_Lowe]

I suspected the 80's on the age of the pope. Thanks for the confirmation.

[Noloter]

Umberto looked frail here. It was taken in the ?

I'm almost sure it was taken in Lisbon on May 14th 1982, during Pope's journey in Portugal.

[Noloter]

H.M. Humbert II during his official visit in Vitulano (a village near Benevento, Italy) in early 30's (at that time he was still Prince of Piedmont).

(I'm sorry for the poor quality, but the original picture I scanned is just 2.5x3 inches.)