Over the centuries, the historic 16th century Bull Inn in Woodbridge has had connections with royalty from across Europe, including the German Kaiser and the Viceroy of India.

On Wednesday, the hotel will be renewing its connections with another Royal family - the Italian version - by restoring the House of Savoy coat of arms to the front of the building.

Woodbridge mayor Robin Sanders is set to unveil the insignia, which had been lost for many years after King Umberto I had granted the Market Hill inn the use of the coat of arms in return for horses supplied to his family by the hotel.

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The relationship began when Victor Emmanuel II of the House of Savoy stayed at the inn in 1873, when the landlord was John Grout, a former stable boy who had set up a successful business for buying and selling horses.

At the time, the press reported how horses were exported by ferry and train through Harwich to Italy.

When Victor Emmanuel II died in January 1878, the relationship was maintained with his successor, King Umberto I, who continued to import horses from the new landlord William Miles, who took over when John Grout died in 1887.

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After supplying horses to the Italian royal family for more than 20 years, King Umberto I granted the Bull Inn the use of the House of Savoy coat of arms in 1896.

For much of the 20th century, the coat of arms was displayed by the hotel, but had been lost in recent years.

The inn's current landlord David Clarke said: "The Bull is again proud to renew this important missing historical connection to its past and would like to thank East Suffolk Council, the planning team and the economic development team for their support in making this happen."

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