The would-be king of France, Jean, Comte de Paris, has written of his “great sadness” of the theft of royal jewels from the Louvre over the weekend.
On the morning of 19 October, thieves broke into the Apollo Gallery at the Louvre just as it opened and stole nine jewels, including a sapphire tiara, necklace and earrings set that once belonged to Queen Marie Amélie; an emerald necklace and emerald earrings that belonged to Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma collection; and a reliquary brooch and corsage bow brooch that belonged to Empress Eugénie, the wife of Napoleon III.
A crown that once belonged to Empress Eugénie was found damaged outside.
Comte Jean shared a statement on the House of Orléan’s official website, writing that “These jewels are not just family heirlooms. They are a living part of our national history, a testament to our country’s elegance and craftsmanship. Their disappearance touches me deeply and represents, I also believe, a deep wound for the French people.”
The House of Orléans sold the Queen Marie Amélie sapphires to the Louvre in 1985, while the museum acquired the rest of the royal jewels involved in the heist through other relatives of the French Royal Family.
Comte Jean concluded with a plea for people to “realize how vital it is to protect these precious witnesses to our history, who connect us to what is noble and timeless in France. Protecting our heritage means honouring our shared memory and serving our country.”
