Mary Queen of Scots rosary beads stolen in raid
A set of gold rosary beads carried by Mary Queen of Scots at her execution in 1587 was among items worth more than £1m stolen in a raid on Arundel Castle. The gold and silver artefacts were snatched from the West Sussex castle on Friday night.
Other pieces taken during the raid include coronation cups given by Mary to the Earl Marshal. An Arundel Castle spokesman said the stolen items were of "priceless historical importance".
Staff were alerted to the break-in at 22:30 BST on Friday after a burglar alarm went off. Sussex Police told the BBC the thieves entered through a window and smashed a glass cabinet to grab the items. Det Con Molly O'Malley said the force thinks a 4x4 'saloon' (British English - a type of passenger car) found abandoned and on fire in nearby Barlavington "was linked" to the raid.
The castle spokesman said the rosary had "little intrinsic value as metal" but was "irreplaceable". A spokesman for Arundel Castle Trustees said: "The stolen items have significant monetary value, but as unique artefacts of the Duke of Norfolk's collection have immeasurably greater and priceless historical importance. "We therefore urge anyone with information to come forward to the police to assist them in returning these treasures back where they belong."
The rosary beads were carried by Mary as she was led to her death
