Victor Emmanuel I
| This page is a work in progress by its author(s) and should not be considered final. |
| Victor Emmanuel I | |
|---|---|
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| Victor Emmanuel I addressing the Political Club, Westminster in August 2011 | |
| King of Kiribati and Tarawa; Lord of Northern Umberland | |
| Reign | 30 April 1990 – present |
| Coronation | 12 May 1990 |
| Predecessor | Umberto IV |
| Prime Minister | Catherine Willoughby |
| Spouse | Mary Bowes-Lyon |
| Issue | Edward, Prince of Norfolk
George, Duke of Lancaster Anne, Duchess of Nottingham Sophia, Duchess of Cambridge Catherine, Duchess of Stanford |
| House | House of Grimaldi |
| Father | Umberto IV of Kiribati-Tarawa |
| Mother | Princess Annemarie of Prussia |
| Born | 22 March 1958 St. James' Hospital, Westminster |
| Religion | Church of Tarawa |
Victor Emmanuel I (full name: Victor Emmanuel Jean-Michel George William Umberto, born 22 March 1958) is the reigning King of Kiribati-Tarawa. On 30 April 1990, he succeeded his father, Umberto IV. He is the only son of Umberto IV of Kiribati-Tarawa and his wife, Princess Annemarie of Prussia.
Upon his ascension to the throne on 30 April 1990, the King became Head of the Kiribatian Commonwealth and thus also became King of the twelve commonwealth realms, as well as the King of the eleven Kiribatian overseas territories. He inherited the throne amidst domestic turmoil; the Kiribatian economy was stagnating, foreign threats loomed from abroad, the price of petroleum had doubled in less than a year, and the people of Kiribati-Tarawa wanted a strong King who could reform the country. His father, King Umberto IV, was considered by many to be incompetent. He did not busy himself with the affairs of the kingdom and instead focused on his own personal dealings. The new King, Victor Emmanuel, took on an aggressive policy towards combatting the issues facing Kiribati. He is often criticised as being too interventionist in his dealings with Parliament, so much so that, in 2001, a group of Labour MPs formally demanded his abdication, which he rejected.
As monarch, he is head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He is married to lady Mary Bowes-Lyon, the daughter of a wealthy Earl, with whom he has five children.
