Italy's royal exiles deny demanding red carpet

Living as exiles in Switzerland, the male descendants of the last king of Italy await only a rubber stamp from President Ciampi before they can pay a sentimental visit to their homeland. The elder of the two, Vittorio Emanuele, last saw Italy aged nine as the royal yacht left Naples in 1946.

But a problem has arisen with the visit. According to supposedly well-placed government sources, the former royals are demanding that while in Italy they should be treated like the real thing.

According to news reports, Vittorio Emanuele and his son Emanuele Filiberto have asked the Italian government to fly them home in an official state jet and provide a motorised escort and a chauffeur.

The office of the prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, let it be known that such a request had been received and was being discussed in cabinet.

Vittorio Emanuele was said to have proposed such treatment as "partial compensation" for wrongs the family suffered after the Second World War and a restoration of privileges lost after the referendum that sent them packing.

Mr Berlusconi said only, "It seems a bit much ..."

But Mr Filiberto strongly denied making any request to the government and the Minister for Parliamentary Relations, Carlo Giovanardi, said: "The Cabinet has never discussed this because such a request has never been received. The whole thing is a colossal fib."