Thieves stole a set of “irreplaceable” historic treasures worth more than £1 million in a raid at Arundel Castle.
Gold rosary beads carried by Mary Queen of Scots to her execution in 1587 were among treasures that were snatched.
Other items in the burglary of the West Sussex castle included coronation cups given by Mary to the Earl Marshal as well as gold and silver items.
Police said staff were alerted to the break-in at 10.30pm on Friday May 21, after a burglar alarm went off and officers were scrambled to the scene.
A 4×4 saloon car was later found burnt out and abandoned and officers are investigating if it was also involved in the raid.
A Sussex Police spokesman said: “Police are seeking thieves who broke into Arundel Castle and stole gold and silver items worth in excess of £1m.
“At 10.30pm on Friday May 21 Castle staff were alerted of a break in after a burglar alarm had sounded.
“Police were on the scene within minutes.
“Various items have been stolen of great historical significance.
“These include the gold rosary beads carried by Mary Queen of Scots
at her execution in 1587, several coronation cups given by the sovereign
to the Earl Marshal of the day, and other gold and silver treasures.
“The rosary is of little intrinsic value as metal, but as piece of the Howard family history and the nation’s heritage it is irreplaceable.
“The items were taken by force from a display cabinet along the public route.”
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