Thieves have stolen some of the most priceless pieces of jewellery linked to French royalty in a smash and grab raid at the Louvre in Paris.
A gang used a cherry picker to gain access to the Apollo gallery on an upper floor at the museum on Sunday morning, just as the tourist attraction was opening its doors to visitors.
Using power tools, they smashed into a series of cases inside the gallery which is home to jewels belonging to some of the most famous French royals.
The theft lasted under ten minutes but has resulted in the disappearance of some of the most famous French royal jewels of all.
Among the pieces stolen is a diamond and emerald necklace that was given by Napoleon to his second wife, Marie Louise, and a stunning sapphire and diamond tiara that was worn by two queens.
The full list of missing items was released by the Louvre several hours after the robbery. All come from the collections within the gallery linked to the post revolution royal families.
One piece, the Crown of the Empress Eugenie, was recovered soon after the raid near to the museum. It had been damaged but is once more in safe keeping.
However, a spectacular diamond corsage style brooch that was part of Eugenie’s collection is still missing. It’s shaped as a bow and features tassels completely studded with diamonds.
Also taken was a striking pearl and diamond tiara that was made for the Empress Eugenie in 1853. Another of Eugenie’s gems, a diamond brooch known as the reliquary brooch, was also taken.
Other jewels taken in the raid include the sapphire and diamond tiara used by Queen Hortense and Queen Marie-Amelie as well as the matching necklace that formed part of the parure. One of the earrings that is also part of this treasured set is gone.
As well as the emerald and diamond necklace belonging to the Empress Marie Louise, the thieves also took the necklace from that set as well as a pair of earrings.
The Louvre Museum confirmed that the Crown of Empress Eugenie was taken but found soon afterwards. It added that the piece was now being examined to see how much damage had been caused.
The theft took place on the morning of Sunday, October 19 just as the Louvre was opening for the day. The thieves used a cherry picker to gain access to the upper floor Apollo gallery which holds many of the French ‘crown jewels’. They used an angle grinder to break into several of the glass cases inside the gallery which held the jewels.
Staff inside the museum got visitors to safety as alarms went off.
The thieves dropped some of their equipment as they fled the scene. No one was hurt in the robbery.
The Louvre remained closed for the whole of Sunday and will attempt to stage a gradual reopening on October 20.
The Apollo gallery, which also holds gems belonging to the French monarchy before the revolution of 1789, remains a crime scene.
