Diamond tiara described as 'national treasure' stolen from armoured display case
A tiara described as a 'national treasure' has been stolen from an armoured display case, along with a diamond brooch.
It was stolen on Tuesday night while alarms were sounding
Police found a silver Audi S5 abandoned and burnt out nearby - they think it was involved.
A diamond tiara has been stolen from an armoured display case.
The Portland Tiara, described as a 'national treasure' was taken from The Welbeck Estate in Worksop, Nottinghamshire on Tuesday night.
The centre-piece of the tiara is the Portland Diamond, which dates from the 19th century.
It is flanked by two diamond drops and other pendant diamonds, all set in gold and silver.
It was taken along with a diamond brooch - while the alarms were sounding.
Nottinghamshire police are appealing for information about a silver Audi S5 they think was involved - it was found abandoned and burnt out half an hour after the theft.
"The Portland Tiara is one of the great historic tiaras of Great Britain,"
according to Richard Edgcumbe, Curator of Jewellery at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
"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."
It was worn by Winifred, Duchess of Portland to the 1902 coronation of King Edward VII.
The brooch taken is composed of diamond clusters that previously stood at the apex of the tiara.