A lawyer for the former Italian royal family confirmed to CNN that they had sent a letter to the central bank in Rome. The crown jewels were deposited in the Bank of Italy by a representative of the family on June 5, 1946. This event happened three days after Italians voted in a referendum to remove the nation’s monarchy and become a republic.
The jewels were entrusted to the central bank to be kept at the disposal for “whoever has the right” to their ownership.
The former Italian royal family are now saying they have the right to the ownership of the jewels.
The case for the return of the crown jewels began to heat up on Tuesday when the grandson of former King Umberto II, Emanuele Filiberto of the House of Savoy, represented the family at a mediation session.
At the meeting, Mr Filiberto asked the central bank to return the crown jewels.
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The government press office added that the crown jewels were, “not personal assets of the House of Savoy.”
Shortly after the end of the Second World War Italy fell into a period of civil discontent.
This led to the institutional referendum on whether Italy would remain a monarchy or become a republic.
In the referendum Italians decided to abandon the monarchy.
As a result of the referendum, all the male members of the House of Savoy were exiled from Italy.
Italy then formed the Italian Republic, the present-day Italian state.
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