voice-over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. washington, dc is the heart of the free world of. let's go now to capitol hill. and more than 20 years are spent here in the news business, i've grown accustomed to thinking of this as the centre of power. decisions that reverberated around the globe are made here by politicians who proudly championed democracy. the rule of the people, by the people. we are here to resist the real

meaning of the results. but it's not the _ meaning of the results. but it's not the only _ meaning of the results. but it's not the only way - meaning of the results. but it's not the only way or necessarily the best. a recent poll suggests that of of the 15 most successful democracies, nine are monarchies. the founding fathers rejected aching, but many europeans feel aching, but many europeans feel a royalfamily is an aching, but many europeans feel a royal family is an asset. i am living washington on a royal mission as the uk has a new king, charles iii. iwant mission as the uk has a new king, charles iii. i want to king, charles iii. iwant to find king, charles iii. i want to find out how other royal families, many of them king charles' relations, managed to stay relevant in the 21st century. i will be mixing in royal circles. how was it? and visiting palaces.— visiting palaces. you can't walk past _ visiting palaces. you can't walk past that _ visiting palaces. you can't walk past that line. - visiting palaces. you can't walk past that line. then l visiting palaces. you can't i walk past that line. then you will shoot — walk past that line. then you will shoot me? _ walk past that line. then you will shoot me? talking - walk past that line. then you will shoot me? talking to - will shoot me? talking to insiders. will shoot me? talking to insides-— will shoot me? talking to insiders. that is more my s le. insiders. that is more my style- do _ insiders. that is more my style- do i _ insiders. that is more my style. do i look _ insiders. that is more my style. do i look like - insiders. that is more my style. do i look like a - style. do i look like a princess? _ style. do i look like a princess? i— style. do i look like a princess? i can - style. do i look like a| princess? i can curtsy style. do i look like a - princess? i can curtsy and talk at the same — princess? i can curtsy and talk at the same time. _ princess? i can curtsy and talk at the same time. and -

at the same time. and consulting _ at the same time. and consulting princes - at the same time. and consulting princes and | consulting princes and princesses about life with the crown. how would you like me to address your?— address your? your highness, or 'ust address your? your highness, or just martha. _ address your? your highness, or just martha. i — address your? your highness, or just martha, i don't _ address your? your highness, or just martha, i don't mind. - address your? your highness, or just martha, i don't mind. or- just martha, i don't mind. or life without a crown. i - life without a crown. i couldn't grow in my country. are — couldn't grow in my country. are there _ couldn't grow in my country. are there lessons for good king trials? in the modern game of thrones? . so far i have been discussing royals who have been living the royal life, hard work but with benefits. what about those who have lost their crowns? what do they think about life without a throne? it's time to meet immanuel of savoy, prince of venice and his eldest daughter, princess vittorio. at 19, she is a model, a social media star, and theoretically the future queen of italy. but there is a problem. the italian monarchy was abolished in 19117. fascist

king victor emmanuel the third had a ready transfer the crown to his son by tow the second in a bid to keep the family and business. a bid to keep the family and business-— business. appearing on the balcony of _ business. appearing on the balcony of his _ business. appearing on the balcony of his palace, - business. appearing on the balcony of his palace, he i balcony of his palace, he receives a ovation from his many supporters. his reign lasted just _ many supporters. his reign lasted just 34 _ many supporters. his reign lasted just 34 days, - many supporters. his reign lasted just 34 days, the - many supporters. his reign | lasted just 34 days, the rule of the house of subway was over, but his grandson keeps the royal flame alive. over, but his grandson keeps the royalflame alive. prince immanuel takes every opportunity to keep his family name in the public eye. perhaps it's not bad for business either. he is a popular italian media figure, especially on

television. the desire for positive publicity might arise from a high—profile family spat, the house of subway not the only contenders for the italian throne. another branch clean princess vittorio's bid is invalid, a disagreement that was not helped by a fistfight during the wedding of king felipe of spain. . royal families, they are complicated! every year the italian royal family and their supporters gather at this lakeside abbey

where king roberto the second is buried. we are waiting for the princess to come in, they all come in, not in robes, we have been told they will all be in suits, they are all descendants of king roberto, who is buried here. this is surreal. every italian monarchist that ever lived seems to be in this church in full regalia... it looks like a kind of gathering of the clan... you couldn't make it up... there are smells, bells and whiff of loss, that began in 1947 when the royals were symbolically exiled from the new italian republic. eyes are

fixed on the teenager beside prince immanuel, specifically designed to let the faithful sea would be queen victoria. she is called the pretender to the throne but they clearly think this is very real. they take it very seriously and it is notjust the outfits. . 0f is notjust the outfits. . of the crown princess effectively, the crown princess effectively, the woman who will be queen. except there is no throne to be queen of... if you don't have a throne... you don't rule over anything, however much you play act at its. isn't at all it is?

a sort of show? social media star vittorio is protected from the mainstream media, her agents as she is not interested in being a princess but is playing at being one here. your daughter did beautiful today. must be very proud of her, she is wonderful. how was it? ? that's how . the savoy branch of the italian family left italy and enjoyed exile in switzerland. he grew up in geneva, consoled

by sports cars and fondue parties. this is an extraordinary house. quite a stranue extraordinary house. quite a strange house, _ extraordinary house. quite a strange house, built - extraordinary house. quite a strange house, built in - extraordinary house. quite a strange house, built in the l extraordinary house. quite a i strange house, built in the 70s by my parents, the furniture was designed for the house, for example, this bar, you can close it and play chess with. it has a certainjames bond quality. that's fantastic. what does it mean for you than to be royal, but not have a throne? i grew up in exile, i could not go to my country. so, i grew outside italy. looking at italy, because italy is there, so we were really close. you cannot stay in your castle or

in your house looking out the window and say italy would have been so much better with the monarchy, or let's wait and see... no, it will never happen. today, coming here and saying i want to restore the monarchy thinking italy could be much better with monarchy, is nonsense there are a lot of people that still believe and like the family, so this is what i want to do. so what i want to do is make this 1000 year history into another world. what i really want is the good of italy. i don't want to go against them or i don't want to say my goal is to restore the monarchy. what could the monarchy do better than the government? in italy, don't forget, one thing, the president of the republic is exactly like the king, the only

difference is that he is elected. the monarchy, i think it's an institutional figure that represents all the citizens.— that represents all the citizens. ., ., , citizens. the italian royals, -erha - s citizens. the italian royals, perhaps more _ citizens. the italian royals, perhaps more importantlyl citizens. the italian royals, - perhaps more importantly their supporters, all those people in the cathedral, clearly believe passionately that they have royalty in their dna, the right stuff to rule. what about countries that don't have a monarchy? could they find somebody with the right stuff to take over the throne? just across the adriatic sea from italy, lies the former kingdom of someone who did not wait to be found. king zog the first of

albania believe that monarchs were not born, but were made, self—made. depending on who you ask, zog was a godlike figure or at devil, as saviour or a tyrant. he was prime minister, then—president, then in he crowned himself europe's first and only muslim king. but he did not have a drop of royal blood. the capital city was his but not for long. from 1946— 1991, albania was communist, this was stalin boulevard, a place for parades for the people's republic of albania. and now it is king zog the first boulevard which i think counts as a return to prominence by a monarch that

was deposed by mussolini in 1939. was zog good or bad? did he like zog or not? yes, he liked zog- _ communist leader hodjer is not a popularfigure. zog's grandson hopes to win more heights. he livesjust grandson hopes to win more heights. he lives just behind a retail development. i can't quite believe i'm about to meet the grandson of king zog. the crown prince hopes that one day albania's monarchy might return and know someone with the right

qualities. himself. your royal highness. thank you so much for having us here, i'm very pleased to be here. i wanted to check i got the title right. indeed the title is right, but amongst friends call me leckjer. amongst friends call me leckjer-_ amongst friends call me leck'er. ., ,., leckjer. even in a painting, kin: leckjer. even in a painting, king zog — leckjer. even in a painting, king zog dominates - leckjer. even in a painting, king zog dominates the - leckjer. even in a painting, i king zog dominates the room, leckjer. even in a painting, - king zog dominates the room, a maverick with a taste for a fighter. he survived 55 attempts on his life, the only known monarch to return fire when our voice descended is not exactly a commoner but not exactly a commoner but not exactly a commoner but not exactly a king either. he lives in a post—soviet limbo, hoping to transition sunday. el} in a post-soviet limbo, hoping to transition sunday.— to transition sunday. 50 years of communist _ to transition sunday. 50 years of communist propaganda - to transition sunday. 50 yearsj of communist propaganda has to transition sunday. 50 years - of communist propaganda has had an impact on the albanian society, living in a society that lost a lot, living with

people who miss trust and offered believe that the monarchy is the only reference of stability, by far the most stable and consistent, democratic countries in the world are monarchies, if it's japan, the more than european countries, norway, sweden, denmark, the fact that the monarchy is able to endure even the most difficult internal political circumstances is a sign of great stability. i am not sign of great stability. i am rrot sure — sign of great stability. i am not sure germany - sign of great stability. i am not sure germany and - sign of great stability. i am l not sure germany and france would agree with me. i’m not sure germany and france would agree with me. i'm not sure germany _ would agree with me. i'm not sure germany and _ would agree with me. i'm not sure germany and france - would agree with me. i'm not sure germany and france sol would agree with me. i'm not. sure germany and france so that stable either.— stable either. what would chan . e stable either. what would change in _ stable either. what would change in the _ stable either. what would change in the country? i stable either. what would i change in the country? what would this mean for this relatively new democracy, for this republic to suddenly have a king? brute this republic to suddenly have a kin: ? ~ . ., this republic to suddenly have akinu? ., ., ,., a king? we have to understand that in essence, _ a king? we have to understand that in essence, our— a king? we have to understand that in essence, our own - that in essence, our own existence is a political statement. at the same time we do not want or allow ourselves

to be involved in the internal politics of the country. we do not want to discourage the support base that we do have, albania has a very strong monarchist viewpoint, there was a lot of support, we are a voice of proactive nurse, unlike other royal families, we do make statements and policies and we do make statements through social media, instagram, facebook, twitter and we have to be very careful. thinking about your daughter, geraldine, can you imagine when she comes of age, and 16, 17 years' time, that we might live in a world where there are more monarchies? she in a world where there are more monarchies?— monarchies? she will be custodian _ monarchies? she will be custodian of _ monarchies? she will be custodian of the - monarchies? she will be custodian of the crown l monarchies? she will be i custodian of the crown and monarchies? she will be - custodian of the crown and in this sense, there will be a number of royalfamilies in number of royal families in europe number of royalfamilies in europe which will have queens as head of state. the most important foundation is that

she cultivates a loving desire to serve the people.- she cultivates a loving desire to serve the people. tirana is a city on _ to serve the people. tirana is a city on the _ to serve the people. tirana is a city on the upper. - to serve the people. tirana is a city on the upper. the - to serve the people. tirana is| a city on the upper. the smell of new concrete and fresh paint is strong in the centre. but away from the hubbub, there are relics of the royal past. this villa was built as a palace for king kinzog but he never even got to move in. it was begun in the 1930s in the fascist style so popular with fascists but mostly kicked zog out before it was even completed. today, it is the official residence of the president, not the prince. —— mussolini. a monument to how things change and a wistful reminder of the careful line leka has to tread consists geraldine is ever to wear a

crown. i came to albania thinking this was the flashing warning sign for other european monarchies. watch out, this could happen to you if you not careful. but it's as if the tolerance of crown prince leka here, even the welcome he has been given, speaks to some deep need that people have for symbols of history and continuity, even a little glamour. it's as if you can read countries of monarchies but you can't read people of their desire for social hierarchy, of our need to bend the knee at something, even the unlikely form of a self appointed deposed king. the british are not about to give up british are not about to give up their king. charles began life as a georgian, then became an elizabethan. we will see if his carolingian rain makes him more like his continental cousins, more open, less grand,

stripped down. a more modern monarchy. back across the pond, it all seems a bit fairy tale. the hopes and dreams and means of faraway roles mightjust seem eccentric in the american republic. 0rare seem eccentric in the american republic. or are they? seem eccentric in the american republic. 0rare they? if seem eccentric in the american republic. or are they? if tv viewing figures are anything to go by. viewing figures are anything to go by, there is more than a sneaking interest here in the lives of royals. in 1953, 27 million britons chewed in to watch the queen's coronation. 85 million americans watched a special recording of it. it had to be flown over because demand was so high. a big royal interview still commands huge audiences in america. so what is the attraction of monarchy and a land that is free of it?

is highness prince dimitri of yugoslavia and manhattan is also the great grandson of the last king of italy, umberto ii. he sits on the branches of many a royalfamily tree. 0h, he sits on the branches of many a royalfamily tree. oh, look at this. this is like christmas. so many things here. you have some yummy things. so beautiful. since the 80s, he has been a go to julen for new york society. has been a go to 'ulen for new york society.— york society. there is no sin . le york society. there is no single diamond. - york society. there is no single diamond. it's - york society. there is no i single diamond. it's natural bells from a 1920 little necklace i had.- bells from a 1920 little necklace i had. his is a rare viewooint- _ necklace i had. his is a rare viewpoint. royal— necklace i had. his is a rare viewpoint. royal insider - necklace i had. his is a rare| viewpoint. royal insider and refugee. do i look like a princess? dimitri, you are steeped in royalty. you have various royal families have come into your own person

through the years. what does that mean, what does that feel like western market means because of the name that i have and my ancestry, it is my duty to do good in life.— to do good in life. and to treat people _ to do good in life. and to treat people nicely, - to do good in life. and to treat people nicely, to i to do good in life. and to - treat people nicely, to behave well, to be an example. to be a role model that's what we are. i always say, royalty are not celebrities. they are role models and they pay for that and that's why people love them. if you are royal, you have to behave like royalty. you are there to serve your people and work hard for them and in exchange, you get to live in a beautiful palace and have all the advantages we know, but also the country has the advantages of having them, which brings a ton of money to the country. d0 which brings a ton of money to the country-— the country. do you think americans _ the country. do you think americans find _ the country. do you think americans find royalty i the country. do you think- americans find royalty romantic in some way?— in some way? there is history, lineare, in some way? there is history, lineage. you — in some way? there is history, lineage, you can _ in some way? there is history, lineage, you can go _ in some way? there is history, lineage, you can go back - in some way? there is history, lineage, you can go back 1000| lineage, you can go back 1000 years. here, it's a country of immigrants. a lot of people

don't even know who their great—grandparents are. and it's a new country. it's only 250 years. most countries in europe are 2000 years old because we go back to the roman empire. i because we go back to the roman emire. ., , empire. i wonder if there is something _ empire. i wonder if there is something about _ empire. i wonder if there is something about the - empire. i wonder if there is something about the fact i empire. i wonder if there is i something about the fact that democracy is messy and, in a way, monarchy, god—given, absolute, there is a simplicity to it that perhaps appeals to people here. maybe people want more monarchy today? the people here. maybe people want more monarchy today?- more monarchy today? the king and the queen _ more monarchy today? the king and the queen in _ more monarchy today? the king and the queen in the _ more monarchy today? the king and the queen in the old - more monarchy today? the king and the queen in the old days i and the queen in the old days were the father and the mother figure of the nation. and we all need, in our uncultured mind, a motherand a all need, in our uncultured mind, a mother and a father to whom we can identify and admire and all that, and i think it's on a collective level, it's like that.— on a collective level, it's like that. on a collective level, it's likethat. , ., , like that. does monarchy keep us held to _ like that. does monarchy keep us held to the _ like that. does monarchy keep us held to the past? _ like that. does monarchy keep us held to the past? is - like that. does monarchy keep us held to the past? is that i us held to the past? is that what monarchy _ us held to the past? is that what monarchy does? it i us held to the past? is that i what monarchy does? it keeps the past in us also, all the traditions and the history stop

dimitri is what majesty is made of. dimitri is what ma'esty is made of. , , ., of. he might 'ust be on the radar of— of. he might 'ust be on the radar of a — of. he mightjust be on the radar of a small _ of. he mightjust be on the radar of a small band i of. he mightjust be on the radar of a small band of i of. he mightjust be on the i radar of a small band of young americans daring to suggest that the united states needs a king or queen. they might be called punk conservancies or maga monarchists. these young men suggest the most radical change to the constitution since it was written. to be safe, they need to stay anonymous.— safe, they need to stay anonymous. safe, they need to stay anon mous. a , ., , anonymous. as it stands right now, we anonymous. as it stands right now. we all— anonymous. as it stands right now, we all have _ anonymous. as it stands right now, we all have different i now, we all have different ideals for what we want, for who we want and what type of person we want and, over time, we will start talking with claimants, start talking with royals who are interested. monarchs, as you know, tended to be born. what would you do, how would you get a monarch in america, given that you don't have a monarch who has been born there?— have a monarch who has been born there? there's been a lot of monarchies _ born there? there's been a lot of monarchies that _ born there? there's been a lot of monarchies that have i born there? there's been a lot of monarchies that have been | of monarchies that have been founded and someone had to

essentially say, pick someone who would be suitable. i have a very specific person in mind. that will be friends duke of bavaria. i personally would prefer to be an american. [30 prefer to be an american. do ou prefer to be an american. do you want. — prefer to be an american. do you want, someone tied to america who could lead us back, lead us back from the brink. a strong moral —— are strong moral characteristics important to you? moral characteristics important to ou? ,, ., , to you? strength and integrity, confidence. — to you? strength and integrity, confidence, strong _ to you? strength and integrity, confidence, strong royal i confidence, strong royal values, really, a model citizen, a model american. values, really, a model citizen, a modelamerican. i’m citizen, a modelamerican. i'm 'ust citizen, a modelamerican. i'm just trying _ citizen, a modelamerican. i'm just trying to — citizen, a modelamerican. i'm just trying to think how this is going to work. how are you suddenly going to get a monarch on the throne in america today? well, the idea was that our proposal is for the government would be passed through an omnibus constitutional remnant. i think our platform right now says— i think our platform right now says an — i think our platform right now says an election among our people _ says an election among our people first. says an election among our people first-— people first. part of me is listening _ people first. part of me is listening to _ people first. part of me is listening to this _ people first. part of me is listening to this and i people first. part of me is i listening to this and thinking there might be a kind of knock on your door at some point from

the gi because it doesn't this all sound very much like an sedition?— sedition? i'm not very particularly _ sedition? i'm not very particularly worried i sedition? i'm not very i particularly worried about it. i guess the simple fact that i think that this is going to start small enough so i'll be dead before it takes off. ulysses, how urgent do you think the need is for a king or queen of america? i think the need is for a king or queen of america?— think the need is for a king or queen of america? i think we've seen in politics _ queen of america? i think we've seen in politics recently, - queen of america? i think we've seen in politics recently, with i seen in politics recently, with the rise — seen in politics recently, with the rise of— the rise of certain personalities like trumpet, a lot of— personalities like trumpet, a lot of people want a king, they 'ust lot of people want a king, they just don't— lot of people want a king, they just don't realise it yet. they want — just don't realise it yet. they want to— just don't realise it yet. they want to be ruled. —— trumpet. this— want to be ruled. —— trumpet. this is— want to be ruled. —— trumpet. this is a — want to be ruled. —— trumpet. this is a long shot but there are a — this is a long shot but there are a lot _ this is a long shot but there are a lot of signs that this could _ are a lot of signs that this could make it.— are a lot of signs that this could make it. the founding fathers took _ could make it. the founding fathers took a _ could make it. the founding fathers took a long - could make it. the founding fathers took a long shot, i could make it. the founding l fathers took a long shot, and look what happened. could the monarchists of america be on to something? does the usa really yearn for a king or queen, but doesn't know it yet? if there

is a desire for a return to monarchy, maybe it's simply we want somebody who rises above the messiness of party politics. and helps unite us. the old school absolutist kind of ruler need not apply. modern america would want someone warm and inclusive, a leka, not a zog. the most successful monarchies are the ones that ruled with an open hand, they are not aloof. they show the people that they are approachable, even lovable, and that makes them worth keeping. the desire for monarchy is an emotion but it's also an equation, a measure of benefits against cost. america made its calculation and whatever their virtues, i can't believe abraham lincoln, who never met one, would ever give a monarch

the time of day. whenever we talk about showers, you can get vastly different weather from one place to the next. if we look at friday's weather in redding, we had hazy spells of sunshine coming through this cloud. it was quite a nice day. butjust down the road, 15 miles away in benson in 0xfordshire, got a direct hit from a pretty big shower. it brought 19 millimetres of rain in the space of two hours — that's a third of a month of rain — and instead of it being a nice day, it was a day where you might�*ve needed to paddle

to get back to your car. now, over the next few hours, it's essentially dry across england and wales, most places having clear skies. do have some thicker clouds starting to move in across scotland and northern ireland, the cloud thick enough for an occasional spit of rain but nothing particularly significant. and here are your temperatures as you head into the first part of your weekend. now, the weekend across england and wales, lots of sunshine on the way and it is going to be mostly dry. for scotland and northern ireland, a bit more in the way of cloud but it'll still be bright. however, the cloud at times will be thick enough to give just a little bit of rain. now, any rain that we do see across these north—western areas isn't going to be that heavy because these weather fronts are weak. they're running into an area of high pressure which is tending to squish them. so, saturday morning, we start off perhaps with a nice sunrise for some across scotland, maybe north west england, north—west wales. the thickest cloud across

scotland and northern ireland. an odd spit of rain, but not much. england and wales, dry with plenty of sunshine from the word go and we'll keep those sunny skies all day. it is going to feel warm in the sunshine with temperatures widely18—21. a little bit cooler around some of our north sea coasts, given the developing onshore wind. and a reminder at this time of the year, the may sunshine is a strong sunshine and so, we'll have high levels of uv. so, if you're outside for any length of time, might be worth just thinking about slapping on a bit of sun cream. 0n into sunday's forecast, it's a similar kind of split to the weather, really, with the cloudier skies across scotland and northern ireland. still some bright weather getting through. again, there could bejust a few spits of rain falling from this weather front that's very weak. england and wales, dry, more sunshine and warm again — temperatures high teens to low 20s. in fact, this weekend, we could see the warmest day of the year so far — not that temperatures are that high. it says more, really, about the fact that the weather's not been that warm so far this year. but into next week, high pressure's in charge and for most, it will

stay fine and dry.

live from washington. this is bbc news, welcome to viewers on pbs in america the ukrainian president, volodymr zelensky, is to meet g7 world leaders in person at the hiroshima summit this sunday. the confirmation of the visit follows the us saying it will provide training for ukrainians to pilot f16 fighterjets. and negotiations continue at the us capitol in hopes of democrats and republicans striking a deal to avert a debt default. hello i'm sumi somaskanda two major international summits today, over 8,000 kilometers apart, with the war in ukraine casting a shadow over both.