Parliament in Italy has given final approval to the return of the country's royal family, which has spent more than half a century in exile.

A large majority of the Senate voted to allow members of the House of Savoy to enter Italy.

The head of the family, Vittorio Emmanuele, expressed his joy at the news, thanking Parliament for its support.

But in what correspondents say is an unusual provision, the law still makes it possible to block the royals' return by popular referendum.

Correspondents say this remains unlikely.

Italy's royal family were expelled after the Second World War for supporting the regime of the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service