Queen Elizabeth's Silver Stolen

3 months ago 10th Jul 14:00

Britain's Queen Elizabeth had crockery and silverware stolen from her garden party.

As guests struggled to find shelter during Tuesday's (07.07.09) storms, the monarch invited around 60 of them into her private marquee - only to later find some irreplaceable china missing.

A source told Britain's Daily Mail newspaper: "The rain was hammering down. The queen could see all these people getting soaked, so she signalled to them to come inside. There were 50 to 60.

It seems people slipped items into coats or bags, because when staff came to clear up they discovered not everything could be accounted for

"It seems people slipped items into coats or bags, because when staff came to clear up they discovered not everything could be accounted for. It's very sad that an act of kindness could be treated with what really was two fingers. We can't believe it. It's the talk of the Palace.

"It was an unbelievable abuse of what was a gesture of kindness. Some of these items you cannot put a price on."

Staff believe at least eight pieces of King George III's silver cutlery, eight side plates, cups marked EIIR and pieces from Queen Victoria's reign were taken.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman declined to comment.