The history of Royalty in the Italian Peninsula in long and complicated.
Before Italian unification in 1861 Italy was filled with separate Kingdoms, Grand Dukedoms, Principalities and two independent micro states (San Marino and the Vatican)
Italy was brought together under the rule of the House of Savoy, an ancient royal family that can trace its history back to the 11th century.
The house of Savoy reigned over a unified Italy from 1861–1946. In that time, there were three Queens of Italy – Queen Margherita, Queen Elena and Queen Marie Jose.
Despite not even lasting a century, the Italian royals did acquire some notable pieces. Fourteen of these jewels were considered to be the most important jewels of the royal collection, these included:
- A tiara composed of diamond studded swirls crossed by a chain of round pearls and decorated with 11 drop-shaped pearls at the top and large round pearls at the bottom
- Two diamond bracelets
- Knot brooch set with a rose coloured diamond
- A double-strand chain, knots resembling the Savoy knot
During World War II, the jewels were supposedly hidden in a safe at the National Bank of Italy. When German soldiers arrived to confiscate them, employees informed them that the King had taken everything with him when he fled. They even showed them the empty safe.
Meanwhile, the precious jewels embarked on a secret journey through a hidden 16th-century tunnel connecting the Quirinale Palace to the Palazzo Barberini. There, within a carefully carved niche, the royal treasure was successfully hidden away until the wars end.
After the referendum and his abdication in 1946, Umberto II consigned the jewels to Luigi Einaudi, the governor of the Bank of Italy at the time, along with a note that read,
“Entrusted to the custody of the central treasury of the Bank of Italy to be kept available to whomever has the right”
It was with with these words that eighty years of arguing was born, still raging to this day. The crux of the dispute lies in ownership. The Savoys claim the jewels are their family heirlooms, while the Italian state argues they belong to the nation. Further complicating matters is the lack of a definitive inventory and the jewels’ unknown worth. Estimates range from hundreds of millions to over a billion euros.
Stefano Papi & Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy (daughter of Umberto II) claim that several sets of jewels purchased by Charles Albert, King of Sardinia, for his daughter-in-law Maria Adelaide of Austria are at the bank, including diadems, earrings, and bracelets made by Italian court jeweller, Musy. A tiara commissioned by Umberto I, composed of 11 scrolls of brilliant gems, with 11 drop pearls, 64 circular pearls, 1040 brilliants, and 541 diamonds weighing 2,092 carats is also supposed to be there.
According to several reports, 6,732 diamonds and gems and 2,000 pearls were deposited with the Bank of Italy. In July 1976, after there were rumors of theft and losses, the leather jewelry case was reopened in the presence of jewellers Gianni Bulgari and Tito Vespasiani . When the jewellers examined the pieces, they confirmed that the treasure was intact though the value was not as high as many expected. Both Vespasiani and Bulgari were thoroughly underwhelmed by the jewels, stating “All I remember of that inspection in 1976 is exclaiming after seeing them: ‘Is it possible that these items are really the treasure of the kingdom of Italy?’”
The royal family of Savoy, banished from Italy in 1946, has been allowed to return, but their precious jewels remain inaccessible in a bank vault. The descendants of King Umberto II took legal action against the Italian government to reclaim these valuable heirlooms. His four children, Princess Maria Pia, Prince Vittorio Emanuele, Princess Maria Gabriella, and Princess Maria Beatrice sued the state, following unsuccessful negotiations with bank authorities.
It is hoped that given the passing in 2023 of the controversial Prince Vittorio Emanuele, an opportunity for his son Emanuele Filiberto and granddaughter, Princess Vittoria of Savoy can improve the public perception of the Italian royal family and settle this long standing dispute.