This book explores the evolution of the role of the heirs to the throne of Italy between 1860 and 1900. It focuses on the future kings Umberto I (1844-1900) and Vittorio Emanuele III (1869-1947), and their respective spouses, Margherita of Savoia (1851-1926) and Elena of Montenegro (1873-1952). It sheds light on the soft power the Italian royals were attempting to generate, by identifying and examining four specific areas of monarchical activity: firstly, the heirs¿ public role and the manner in which they attempted to craft an Italian identity through a process of self-presentation; secondly, the national, royal, linguistic and military education of the heirs; thirdly, the promotion of a family-centred dynasty deploying both male and female elements in the public realm; and finally the readiness to embrace different modes of mobility in the construction of italianità. By analysing the growing importance of the royal heirs and their performance on the public stage in post-Risorgimento Italy, this study investigates the attempted construction of a cohesive national identity through the crown and, more specifically, the heirs to the throne.

Maria Christina Marchi is an independent scholar and former researcher at the University of St Andrews, UK, who specialises in nineteenth-century Italian history. Her research interests are centred on the construction of Italian identity and the role of the heirs on the public stage. She has given a number of papers and published works on the role of soft power, symbols and the evolution of italianità in post-Risorgimento Italy.

1. Introduction.- 2. The Royal Shop Window in the Nation's Market Place: Selling the Savoia Narrative.- 3. Royal and National Education: A 'Laboratory for Italianità'.- 4. Gender and Family: Realms of Royalty.- 5. Mobility: Royals on the Move.- 6. Conclusion.