Victor Emmanuel, son of Italy’s last king, was sent to a prison in southern Italy today after his arrest as part of an investigation into prostitution and corruption.

The descendants of Italy’s last king today said they were overjoyed at the prospect of returning to their homeland following the failure of a petition that would have kept them in exile.

The Italian parliament today gave final approval to lifting a constitutional ban that kept the male descendants of Italy’s last king out of their homeland, paving a way for their return after 56 years of exile.