Lost Habsburg crown jewels reemerge after a century in hiding
A collection of lost Habsburg Jewels, including Emperor Rudolf II’s imperial crown and the Florentine Diamond, has resurfaced in a Canadian bank vault. The treasures vanished from Vienna’s Hofburg Palace in 1918, just as the monarchy collapsed. Their sudden reappearance after over a century has sparked both historical intrigue and legal questions.
The jewels were secretly deposited in Canada by Empress Zita, the last Habsburg empress. She kept their location hidden until her death, with the vault’s contents only revealed in November 2024. Among the recovered items, the imperial crown and the Florentine Diamond stand out—but Empress Elisabeth’s diamond crown remains missing.
Austrian broadcaster ORF will air a documentary on the discovery, titled The Theft of the Crown Jewels, on December 30, 2024. Directed by Wolfgang Winkler, the film blends expert interviews with dramatic storytelling, tracing the jewels’ journey from their disappearance to their recent authentication. The programme will be shown on ORF 2 at 11:05 p.m. and on ORF ON.
Karl Habsburg, the current head of the family, claims he had no knowledge of the jewels until this year. Meanwhile, the Republic of Austria may have a legal claim to the treasures, though enforcing it could prove difficult. The documentary also examines the broader historical context, focusing on the final days of the Habsburg monarchy.
The rediscovery of the Habsburg Jewels sheds new light on a century-old mystery. While their authenticity is confirmed, legal and historical debates over ownership are likely to continue. The ORF documentary will bring the full story to Austrian audiences before the year ends.
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