Maria Francesca of Savoy

Princess Maria Francesca of Savoy (Maria Francesca Anna Romana; 26 December 1914 – 7 December 2001) was the youngest daughter of Victor Emmanuel III of Italy and Elena of Montenegro.

She was a sister of Umberto II of Italy and of Queen Giovanna of Bulgaria.

Marriage and issue

On 23 January 1939, Maria Francesca married Prince Luigi Carlo of Bourbon-Parma (5 December 1899 - 4 December 1967), a younger son of Robert I, Duke of Parma, and Infanta Maria Antonia of Portugal.

Her husband was a brother of Zita, Empress of Austria, among many others. They had four children:

• Prince Guy Sixte Louis Robert Victor of Bourbon-Parma (7 August 1940, Cannes – 10 March 1991, Paris) married Brigitte Peu-Duvallon on 11 November 1964; divorced 17 September 1981, with issue
• Prince Rémy François of Bourbon-Parma (born 14 July 1942, Cannes) married firstly Laurence Dufresne d'Arganchy 10 February 1973; divorced 1983, with issue. He wed secondly Elisabeth Tardif 5 July 2003.
• Princess Chantal Marie of Bourbon-Parma (born 24 November 1946, Cannes) married firstly Panayotis Skinas on 1 July 1977; divorced 1987, with issue. She wed secondly Francois-Henri Georges 24 September 1988
• Prince Jean Bernard Rémy of Bourbon-Parma (born 15 October 1951, Cannes) married Virginia Roatta 26 March 1988, with issue

Title, styles and honours

• 26 December 1914 – 7 December 2001: Her Royal Highness Princess Maria Francesca of Savoy

•  House of Savoy: Knight Grand Cordon of the Royal Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
  •  Sovereign Military Order of Malta: Knight Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, 3rd First Class

•  Austrian Imperial and Royal Family: Dame of the Order of the Starry Cross, 2nd Class