A set of “irreplaceable” gold rosary beads carried by Mary Queen of Scots to her execution in 1587 are among historic treasures worth more than £1 million stolen in a raid at Arundel Castle.

Other items taken in the burglary of the West Sussex castle include coronation cups given by Mary to the Earl Marshal, including gold and silver items.

Staffers were alerted to the break-in at 10.30 p.m. on Friday after a burglar alarm went off and the police were scrambled to the scene.

A 4×4 saloon car has since been burnt out and abandoned and is thought to have been involved in the raid.

A Sussex police spokesman said, “Police are seeking thieves who broke into Arundel Castle and stole gold and silver items worth in excess of £1 million.

“At 10.30 p.m. on Friday, May 21, castle staff were alerted of a break-in after a burglar alarm had sounded.

“Police were on the scene within minutes. Various items have been stolen of great historical significance. These include the gold rosary beads carried by Mary Queen of Scots at her execution in 1587, several coronation cups given by the sovereign to the Earl Marshal of the day, and other gold and silver treasures.

“The rosary is of little intrinsic value as metal, but as piece of the Howard family history and the nation’s heritage it is irreplaceable. The items were taken by force from a display cabinet along the public route.”

The spokesman added, “Police are examining a 4×4 saloon which was found abandoned and on fire in nearby Barlavington a short while later, to establish whether it is connected to the burglary.”

A spokesman for Arundel Castle Trustees said, “The stolen items have significant monetary value, but as unique artefacts of the Duke of Norfolk’s collection have immeasurably greater and priceless historical importance.

“We, therefore, urge anyone with information to come forward to the police to assist them in returning these treasures back where they belong.”

Also commenting on the crime, Detective Constable Molly O’Malley of Chichester CID called for any information that can help in arresting the thieves.

He stated, “If you were in Arundel on Friday evening and saw any suspicious activity around the area of the castle, please contact us either online or by calling 101, quoting Operation Deuce.

“In addition, the castle only re-opened to visitors on Tuesday, May 18, so if you were visiting during the past few days, do you on reflection recall anyone behaving at all suspiciously?

“If you are offered or hear of anyone offering for sale any of the items stolen, we would also like to hear from you.”

(PA Media-dpa/NAN)