The Italian prince hints that Charles should abdicate after he renounced his claim to the throne for daughter

Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy has hinted that King Charles may have to abdicate after abdicating his own claim to the throne for his teenage daughter.

The 50-year-old king has said it will be “a great pleasure” for him to step aside and allow his influential daughter to become the head of the monarchy – which he hopes will one day be in Italy restored.

Talking to the Daily telegramadmitted Prince Emanuele that he believes Vittoria – who boasts nearly 80,000 followers – will “do better than [him]in the role.

He said: ‘It is important that the younger generation has the opportunity to put new, modern ideas into practice.’

However, the father-of-two — who is married to French actress Clotilde Courau — says he also came to the decision after King Charles waited decades to become monarch.

Prince Emanuele suggested that Charles should have stepped aside to allow William to become monarch, adding: “He is a great king, but he has waited a long time.

“Maybe it would have helped if he had become king twenty years ago.”

King Charles inherited the throne at the age of 74 after the Queen’s death last September.

In her coronation speech in 1953, the Queen – who was then 25 years old – pledged to serve as monarch for the rest of her life.

The deceased monarch said, “All my life and with all my heart I will strive to be worthy of your trust.”

Italy currently has no royal family of its own – having abolished the monarchy in a referendum in 1946.

But despite little support for the restoration of the monarchy in Italy, Prince Emanuele believes there is still a need for it.

He added, “I think in times of crisis people see a strong, almost spiritual presence in kings and queens.”

King Charles pictured with his late mother The Queen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in June 2022

The Franco-Italian royal family loves to share glimpses of her life on Instagram, from trips to the beach to nights out with friends

The House of Savoy, the family from which Emanuele and Vittoria descend, has existed since 1003. The 19-year-old grandfather, Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Naples, 86, is the current pretender to the throne.

The family has long pointed to the example of Spain, where the monarchy was restored after Franco’s death in 1975.

The country’s king, Felipe VI, is the son of King Juan Carlos, who led Spain’s transition to democracy. His heir presumptive is 17-year-old Leonor, Princess of Asturias.

Last year, the Savoy family changed ancient customs known as the Salic Law to allow Vittoria to inherit the throne.

Previously, the law stipulated that the royal line could only pass to male heirs, Vittoria’s grandfather Vittorio Emanuele changed the law.

“In a few years there will be more queens than kings in Europe,” Prince Emanuele added. “People understand now, even if it’s a little late, that a woman’s intelligence and sensitivity makes them great leaders.”

Speaking to the New York Times in May 2021, Vittoria said the law change was “the best gift” [my grandfather] could give me’.

When asked if she felt Italy was ready to accept her as queen or head of her family, she said, “Italy isn’t really progressive, but they’ll learn.”

The teenager, who attended the private École Diagonale in Paris, has a passion for art and fashion, as evidenced by her social media profile.

École Diagonale is known for its arts and sports programs, in addition to a rigorous curriculum.

In her spare time, Vittoria travels between Geneva, where she was born in 2003, and Monte Carlo, where her father Emanuele lives, and an Italian farmhouse owned by her family in Umbertide, Umbria.