Background
She was a daughter of Prince Ferdinand, Duke of Genoa and Princess Elisabeth of Saxony.
She was a daughter of Prince Ferdinand, Duke of Genoa and Princess Elisabeth of Saxony.
On 11 November 1869, Margherita gave birth to Victor Emmanuel, Prince of Naples, later Victor Emmanuel III of Italy. On 9 January 1878, Umberto succeeded as the new King of Italy. She became his and remained by his side for the rest of his reign.
Umberto, after the attempted murders by anarchists Giovanni Passannante and Pietro Acciarito, was killed by another anarchist, Gaetano Bresci, on 29 July 1900.
Margherita encouraged artists and writers and founded cultural institutions, notably the Società del Quartetto, and the Casa di Dante. She was a benefactor of many charities, especially the Red Cross.
On 18 August 1893, in the company of various guides, porters, Alpini, politicians and aristocrats, Margherita climbed the Punta Gnifetti (or Signalkuppe), a peak of the Monte Rosa massif on the Swiss-Italian border, for the inauguration of the mountain hut named after her. At 4,554 metres the Capanna Regina Margherita, remains the highest hut in Europe.
Margherita later accepted the position of Honorary President of the Ladies" Alpine Club.
In 1881, the mining town of Margherita in Assam, India was named after her. In 1879, the town of Margherita di Savoia, in Apulia, Italy, near Barletta, was named after her. According to legend, in 1889, the Margherita pizza, whose red tomatoes, green basil, and white cheese represent the Italian flag, was named after her.
In 2011, some of the Queen"s jewellery was auctioned at Christies.
Titles and styles
20 November 1851 – 21 April 1868 Her Royal Highness Princess Margherita of Savoy-Genoa
21 April 1868 – 9 January 1878 Her Royal Highness The Princess of Piedmont
9 January 1878 – 29 July 1900 Her Majesty The Queen of Italy
29 July 1900 – 4 January 1926 Her Majesty The Queen Mother of Italy.
Politically she leant towards Fascism—in October 1922 the quadrumvirs (Emilio De Bono, Italo Balbo, Michele Bianchi and Cesare Maria de Vecchi) visited her at Bordighera to pay their respects prior to the March on Rome.