Descendants of Italy’s last king attempt to reclaim crown jewels

[Still Waters]

Descendants of the last king of Italy have made their first formal request to reclaim the crown jewels, which for almost 76 years have been stashed in a treasure chest in a safety deposit box at the Bank of Italy amid a long-running mystery over their ownership.

The bank took delivery of the jewels, comprising more than 6,000 diamonds and 2,000 pearls mounted on brooches and necklaces worn by various queens and princesses, on 5 June 1946, three days after Italians voted to abolish the monarchy and nine days before King Umberto II, who ruled for just 34 days, was banished into exile along with his male heirs.

Umberto II had tasked Falcone Lucifero, the minister of the Royal House, to bring the jewels to Luigi Einaudi, the then governor of Bank of Italy who later became president, for safekeeping.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/25/descendants-of-italys-last-king-attempt-to-reclaim-crown-jewels

[+OverSword]

I find myself on the side of the royals here.  Weird. 

[Cookie Monster]

Me too, it seems like a theft of personal property as punishment for WW2.

[Essan]

The question is whether the Italian Crown Jewels were the personal property of the monarch, or, as is the case in the UK, belong to the Crown.   Our Queen has her own jewellery, but the Brtish Crown Jewels - held in the Tower of London - belong to the Crown aka the State.  Not to any individual.   If we abolished our monarchy, they would have no claim over them.