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Princess's Ring Vanishes, Appears at Auction
13 Oct
Summary
- A priceless engagement ring belonging to Princess Firyal surfaced in a UK auction catalogue.
- The princess discovered her missing jewelry after a friend recognized the ring in November 2020.
- Her former housekeeper is accused of stealing valuable pieces from the Belgravia residence.
A criminal investigation was launched after an engagement ring commissioned for Princess Firyal Irshaid appeared in a British auction catalogue in November 2020. The 81-year-old princess reported that she had not authorized the sale of this or other jewelry from her collection. Her discovery began with a phone call from a friend in the jewelry trade, leading her to examine auction records.
The court heard that the unique engagement ring was featured on the cover of a Canterbury Auction Galleries catalogue. Princess Firyal provided bills of sale, photographs, and other records to establish her ownership of the items, which included earrings and a bracelet. She stated that the jewelry was kept in accessible areas of her Belgravia home.
Princess Firyal had left London for Jordan in mid-March 2020 due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Her former housekeeper of 11 years, Maria Virgelina Taborda Henao, is accused of exploiting her access to the residence. During the investigation, police searched the housekeeper's home in Fulham and recovered several items belonging to the princess.
