Mehmed VI fled Istanbul on 17 November 1922. Istanbul is geographically not a part of Anatolia, Anatolia refers to the Asian parts of Turkey which was just across the river from Istanbul. The region he fled from was called Rumeli.

Mehmed VI fled in an ambulance from his palace to the British Battleship HMS Malaya which took him to Malta. He then took another ship to Italy, his primary residence was in Sanremo, where he died in 1926.

He did have a family, he had five wives two of which fled with him, his only son Şehzade Mehmed Ertuğrul also went into exile with him. Ertugrul died in 1944 without having any children of his own. Mehmed VI also had 2 daughters. Mehmed's most notable descendant is his granddaughter Fatma Nesilsah who was married to Prince Muhammad Abdel Moneim, who was the regent of Egypt 1952-53.

Because women can't inherit the Ottoman throne the heir to the throne isn't a descendant of Mehmed VI. The Ottoman throne passes to the oldest man who is descended from Mehmed III in a direct male line. The current Ottoman heir is Dündar Ali Osman.