In early 1904 the British press carried reports that Princess Alice of Bourbon, who had recently left her husband, Prince Frederick of Schonburg-Waldenburg, (some reports say his christian name was Victor) had a valuable necklace, said to have belonged to Marie Antoinette, stolen.
The story of the theft is very strange. Initially it was reported that it was theft
For example as in the Sutherland Daily Echo 29 March 1904
Then came reports that the necklace had not belonged to Marie Antoinette and was worth only a fraction of the reported price. Some reports say the necklace was a gift from the Princess' mother, others that it belonged to Don Jamie, Duke of Madrid who left it in his sister's care.
Belfast News Letter 4 April 1904
Then the story changed yet again - as in the third item below Daily Telegraph 30 March 1904
I wonder if this necklace could be one of the Bourbon Parma jewels which will be auctioned in November? The description of the necklace having 42 pendants caught my attention -- even though the one to be auctioned has by my count only 39 pendants. http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2018/royal-jewels-bourbon-parma-family-ge1809/lot.pr.6MM7F.html
The necklace to be auctioned is said to have some diamonds which belonged to Marie Antoinette.
The mother of Don Jamie was Margherita of Bourbon Parma, a niece of the Count of Chambord. I have read that the Count used diamonds he inherited from the Duchess of Angouleme as wedding gifts for his relatives. I have also read that Margherita of Bourbon Parma inherited from the Count.
Even if the necklace was at one stage owned by Don Jamie, how did it then go back to the main line of the Bourbon Parma family?
Or could this be a separate necklace which may also contain diamonds which formerly belonged to Marie Antoinette? Perhaps we will have to wait to see what additional history Vincent Meylan publishes on Friday in Point de Vue
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