Sweden Recovers Stolen Royal Treasure Snatched From Unguarded Cathedral

Screenshot 2018-07-31 at 23.31.24
Swedish Police Handout

STOCKHOLM (AP) – Swedish royal treasure from 1611 that is said to be worth 65 million kronor ($7.2 million) and was stolen last year from a cathedral, might have been found, police said Tuesday.

Police said in a statement that “all seems to indicate King Karl IX’s stolen funeral regalia have been found in the Stockholm area.”

More details will come “when we know for sure if it is the stolen regalia.”

A 22-year-old Swedish man is standing trial on accusations of stealing two crowns and an orb from the Strangnas Cathedral, west of Stockholm om July 31, from an alarmed display after the glass was smashed.

The defendant, a 22-year-old Swedish national, who was arrested Sept. 12, has not been publicly identified.

A second man has been detained but not charged.

The stolen artifacts are so-called funeral regalia, which are placed inside or on top of a coffin to symbolize a deceased royal’s identity and social ranking.

While some funeral regalia are kept in the cathedrals of Strangnas, Uppsala and Vasteras, Sweden’s crown jewels are in vaults under the Royal Castle in Stockholm.

COMMENTS

Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.