th
# 78 APRIL 18 , 2016
a woman by the Catholic
Church. In July 1943, King
Vittorio Emanuele III arrests Mussolini and leaves
Rome on September 9,
taking refuge in Brindisi,
helped by the new allies.
Elena follows her husband
in the so-called "escape".
After the war, on May 9
1946, Vittorio Emanuele III abdicates in favor of
his son Umberto, takes
the name of Count of Pollenzo and goes into exile
with Elena. The couple is
welcomed in Alexandria
of Egypt by King Farouk
I. Elena and her husband
remain in Egypt until the
latter's death, on December 28 1947. Three years
later, the Queen finds out
she has cancer, and moves Montpellier, France,
where she dies on November 28 1952.
A sensible and pragmatic spirit, Queen
Elena always stayed away from the political issues and dedicated her efforts
to a huge number of charitable and
welfare initiatives, thus securing a wide
popularity. For these reasons she has
been, among the personalities of the
House of Savoy, the most appreciated
by the public, even after the advent of
the Republic.
64 | WE THE ITALIANS
www.wetheitalians.com