Italy's former royal family are suing the country's government in their fight to reclaim the crown jewels that were confiscated when the monarchy was abolished.
The royals, who were exiled from Italy after the Second World War until 2002, want their collection of tiaras, necklaces, brooches and earrings returned to them from a vault in the Bank of Italy in Rome.
The legal auction is being brought after the children of King Umberto II failed to agree a deal with the bank for the jewels - said to be worth £250million - to be returned.
Also included in the collection is more than 6,000 diamonds and 2,000 pearls mounted on brooches.
Lawyer Sergio Orlandi, who is representing Umberto II's son and three daughters, said the first court hearing will take place on June 7 in Rome.
Italy 's former royal family are suing the country's government in their fight to reclaim the crown jewels that were confiscated when the monarchy was abolished. Above: Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy (pictured with his wife Princess Clotilde Courau in 2014), 49, the grandson of Italy's last king, is calling for the jewels to be returned to his family
The royals, who were exiled from Italy after the Second World War until 2002, want their collection of tiaras, necklaces, brooches and earrings returned to them from a vault in the Bank of Italy in Rome. Pictured: Crown Prince Umberto of Italy with his bride Princess Marie Jose of Belgium, in 1930
The jewels were taken away when Italians voted to abolish the monarchy after the war. King Umberto then fled to Portugal.
The Italians were punishing the royal family for collaborating with fascist dictator Benito Mussolini - an ally of Nazi Germany's Adolf Hitler.
The family then fled Rome in 1944 to avoid an invading German army after Mussolini's fall.
Speaking in The Guardian, Orlandi said: 'We knew
