When 28-year-old Prince Amadeo of Belgium, who married journalist Elisabetta Rosboch last month, is directly linked to Baron Giovanni de Nava, the man who was Malta’s Castellano – or governor – in 1469, according to genealogist Charles Said-Vassallo.

De Nava’s son married Paola Falzon of Mdina and for a long while they lived at Palazzo Falzon. Their son Guzeppe married into the noble Inguanez family, who were the islands’ Capitano della Verga – the nobility’s term for effective governor of Malta.

Prince Amadeo and Elisabetta Rosboch during their wedding in Rome last month. Photo: ReutersPrince Amadeo and Elisabetta Rosboch during their wedding in Rome last month. Photo: Reuters

Their daughter, Vincenza, married Giovanni Platamone of Gozo and they migrated to Sicily. From then on, the descendants start marrying into Sicilian nobility, until one direct descendant Fulco Beniamino became Duke of Guardi Lombarda and married a Belgian noble lady. Their son Fulco was created Prince Ruffo di Calabria in Belgium and was a hero of World War II.

His youngest daughter, Paola, married the future King Albert II of Belgium.

“Their son, currently the King of Belgium, is therefore of direct Maltese descent,” said Mr Said-Vassallo, who is based in Australia and is the man behind maltagenealogy.com. Prince Amadeo – the newly-wed groom – is the nephew of King Albert and is sixth in line to the Belgian throne.

Which brings us to the recent wedding on July 6. As per tradition it was held in the bride’s home country in the church of Santa Maria in Trastevere.

The bride, who works as a cultural journalist for Bloomberg News, wore a beautiful dress.

However, there is more to the story, said Mr Said-Vassallo. “Prince Amadeo’s mother, Astrid, King Albert’s sister, married the Archduke Lorenz of Austria and is heir to the Duchy of Modena in Italy,” he said.

Which of course means that there is Maltese blood even in the royal family of Modena.

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