The Surprising Mystery of Italy’s Crown Jewels Is Who Gets to Keep Them

ROME—The crown jewels usually bring to mind kingly treasures. Yet for the past 75 years, Italy’s own glittery trove was largely forgotten.

In the aftermath of World War II, Italy’s last king and his family left Rome in a hurry after Italians voted to dump them for a republic in June 1946. A few days after the referendum, a representative of the ousted family stashed the crown jewels in a deposit box at the Bank of Italy, where they remain.