11 Facts About The Italian Royal Who Is Dating A Danish Prince

While Princess Maria Chiara di Borbone uses a royal title, there's actually no officially recognized royalty or nobility in Italy. So how did Chiara come by this title?

King Umberto II was the last king of modern Italy, but he left the throne and the country when citizens voted in favor of a republic in 1946. Long before this, though, Italy was made up of smaller independent states, one of which was the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Through her lineage, Chiara is a member of the royal family of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, which is an offshoot of the Spanish House of Bourbon.

Chiara's father is considered the successor of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies — by some. His cousin, Prince Pedro, considers himself the heir because he has a son. Although Chiara's ancestors ruled parts of Italy, today the family holds no real or even ceremonial power. Despite her family's lack of an official position, Chiara still publicly styles herself as a princess on her website and Instagram — and her family has a fortune in the high millions.