Police are looking for burglars who stole a priceless diamond tiara described as a ‘national treasure’ from a historic country estate.
The thieves broke into the Welbeck Estate in Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, between 9.45pm and 10pm on Tuesday this week.
A diamond brooch along with the Portland Tiara, said to be ‘worth millions’, were stolen from an armoured glass display case, as alarms sounded during the heist.
The Portland Tiara is said to be ‘worth millions’ is a considered one of the great historic tiaras of Great Britain
The sixth Duke of Portland commissioned Cartier to create the tiara for his wife Winifred, Duchess of Portland (pictured)
The heirloom is considered one of the ‘great historic tiaras of Great Britain’ after the Duke of Portland commissioned jewelers Cartier to make it in 1902.
Nottinghamshire Police have launched an investigation and are appealing for information about a silver Audi S5 believed to be involved in the raid.
A broach was also taken from the same glass case as the tiara
They confirmed they were pursuing a ‘number of lines of inquiry’.
Detective Inspector Neil Humphris said: ‘We particularly want to hear from anyone who has any information about a silver Audi S5 which is suspected to have been involved in this offence.
‘This vehicle was found abandoned and burnt out in Cross Lane, Blidworth, about half-an-hour after the incident.
‘Did you see this vehicle in the Welbeck area around the time of the burglary or anywhere between the Welbeck Estate and Cross Lane in Blidworth between 9.45pm and 10.30pm on Tuesday night?
‘If you have any information about this vehicle or the offence itself we’d urge you to please come forward and contact us as soon as possible.
‘We’d also like to hear from any drivers who may have dash cam footage of this vehicle.’
Richard Edgcumbe, Curator of Jewellery at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, said: ‘The Portland Tiara is one of the great historic tiaras of Great Britain’.
‘Since its creation by Cartier in 1902, using diamonds from the historic collections of the Dukes of Portland, it has been recognised as a jewel of supreme importance, a superb design magnificently executed.’
The sixth Duke of Portland commissioned Cartier to create the tiara for his wife Winifred, Duchess of Portland.
She wore it to the 1902 coronation of King Edward VII. She was one of four pall-bearers at Queen Alexandra’s anointing.
The Portland diamond is the centre-piece of the jewellery, which dates back to the 19th century.
Flanked by two diamond drops and other valuable pendant diamonds, the tiara is set in gold and silver.
The stolen brooch was made of diamond clusters which stood at the apex of the tiara.
These gems can be seen on the tiara in a painting of Duchess Winifred at the anointing of Queen Alexandra.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting incident number 856 of 20 November 2018, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The Portland Collection is part of the Harley Gallery which is housed on the estate