Tuesday, October 21, 2025-France has confirmed that the priceless royal jewellery stolen from the Louvre Museum last week were not covered by any private insurance.
The Ministry of Culture said the items, which belonged to former French monarchs and empresses, were considered “national treasures” with no market value — meaning the state assumes the risk instead of commercial insurers. Officials argue that ensuring such irreplaceable works would be impossible due to their historical and cultural significance.
Security footage shows the thieves scaling the Louvre’s façade with a lift truck, breaking into the Galerie d’Apollon, and escaping within minutes with eight major pieces of jewellery.
One item was recovered nearby, but investigators fear the rest could be dismantled or melted down to hide their identity. The daring daylight robbery has stunned France, with the culture minister admitting that the museum’s security “failed at multiple levels.”
The revelation that the stolen pieces were uninsured adds to public outrage, as taxpayers may ultimately shoulder the cost of recovery and restoration. Experts say the heist exposes long-standing security weaknesses and could complicate future international loans of French artworks.
For a nation that views the Louvre as its cultural heart, the loss represents not just missing gems — but a painful reminder of how vulnerable even the world’s greatest museum can be.
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