Imagine strolling through the Louvre’s majestic halls 🖼️ on a crisp morning in 2024, when a fellow visitor casually lifts their phone to film the glittering Imperial Crown of Empress Eugénie. That exact moment, captured in a close-up video shot around 9:30 a.m. local time on October 19, would soon become historic.
Just hours after the footage was taken, the dazzlers behind the lens became the most famous witnesses to one of the boldest art crimes in recent memory. The imperial jewels — including Empress Eugénie’s crown, her tiara and reliquary brooch, plus a stunning sapphire tiara once worn by Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense — were all stolen in a heist that forced the Louvre to shut its doors.
The video shows the jewels gleaming under the glass display, each gemstone reflecting the museum lights like tiny galaxies. Viewers can almost hear the soft click of the display case closing 💎.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez revealed that conspirators remain at large and that investigators are chasing every lead. Eyewitnesses report that in the chaos of the theft, Empress Eugénie’s crown was actually dropped and later found outside the museum — a small victory amid a massive security scare.
As the manhunt intensifies, this grainy yet unforgettable tourist recording stands as a rare glimpse into what was lost and how secure our cultural treasures really are. Stay tuned for more updates — and keep those phones ready 🎥🕵️♂️.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
