Palace Butler Arrested for Stealing £100s of Thousands in Antiques

The chief butler at France's Elysée Palace has been arrested in connection with the theft of antique tableware valued at hundreds of thousands of pounds. Over a two-year period, hundreds of porcelain plates and silver dishes, some used during state banquets for figures like King Charles and Queen Camilla, were systematically removed from the palace. The operation was described by police as highly organised, involving the butler, his partner, and an antique porcelain dealer.

The three suspects have confessed to their involvement in the audacious scheme. The chief butler, who had worked at the palace for five years, allegedly discreetly removed items one by one, while also falsifying the tableware inventory. Many of the stolen goods, notably from the renowned Sèvres porcelain factory, were recovered during simultaneous raids on homes and a business in the Loiret department and Versailles.

The suspects are expected to appear at the Paris Criminal Court in February 2026, following their confessions while in custody. The case highlights a significant security breach at one of France's most high-profile institutions, with the recovered items representing a fraction of the valuable collection that had been amassed to entertain dignitaries.