the crown jewels at the heart of a legal battle

In the basement of the Bank of Italy, hides a treasure. The crown jewels were last seen worn by Italy’s newest queen 76 years ago. Since then, they have been under seal. The heirs of the royal family are attacking the Italian state to recover what they believe to be their property. In May 1946, the new King Umberto II appeared on the balcony of the Quirinal with his family in front of a crowd of Italians. But a few days later, a referendum gave victory to the Republicans. Accused of collaborating with the fascist regime, the Savoy family was forced into exile and then left without the crown jewels.

In essence, the Savoys left the jewels at the Bank of Italy with the expectation that they would one day return to power. The value of the jewels is between 50,000 and 70,000 dollars per carat according to a gemologist. The trial between the State and representatives of the Savoy family will begin on Wednesday June 22. What is at stake in the trial is whether the jewelry belongs to the family or to the state.