Jordanian Princess Firyal Irshaid reportedly had no idea her jewellery collection was missing until she received a surprising phone call. Her one-of-a-kind engagement ring had appeared on the cover of an auction catalogue, leading her to discover that several pieces from her collection had allegedly been stolen from her London home.
The discovery came during the Covid-19 pandemic, when Princess Firyal had left the UK in a hurry and returned to Jordan. Now, her former housekeeper is on trial in London over allegations that she stole jewellery from the princess's Belgravia home, with the defendant denying the charge.
The Catalogue That Exposed the Crime
Princess Firyal told Southwark Crown Court that she left London in mid-March 2020 after her son called and gave her just three hours to pack and reach the airport. She said it was the last flight leaving before Jordan closed its airport, meaning she left her home and belongings behind as the pandemic disrupted international travel.
Months later, on 21 November 2020, Pierre Jeannet, a partner at high-end jewellery house JAR who had created the engagement ring, contacted her. He reportedly asked whether she was selling her jewellery before telling her that the specially made ring had appeared on the cover of an auction catalogue.
That call appears to have been the moment Princess Firyal realised something was seriously wrong. She obtained catalogues from Canterbury Auction Galleries and found that more pieces from her collection had been listed in earlier sales held in March, May and August 2020.
Jordanian princess found out her Colombian housekeeper had stolen her jewellery when it appeared in auction house magazine, court told https://t.co/BD9v1u3hrT
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) October 7, 2026
What Happened to Her Jewellery?
The engagement ring was particularly significant because Princess Firyal said it had been made specifically for her and was 'the only one like it in the world'. She told jurors that the ring was selected to feature prominently on the auction catalogue, making the discovery even more striking.
The princess then began gathering documents to show that the jewellery belonged to her. According to the court report, she used bills of sale, catalogue images and photographs of herself wearing some of the pieces, including a pair of earrings, to help establish ownership.
Police later searched the home of Maria Virgelina Taborda Henao, the princess's former housekeeper, and found several items that allegedly belonged to Princess Firyal. These included her wedding ring, a pair of earrings and a jewelled metal necklace.
Housekeeper Now Faces Trial
Taborda Henao, who worked for Princess Firyal for 11 years, is accused of stealing jewellery while looking after the Belgravia property in 2020. She is now standing trial at Southwark Crown Court and denies stealing the jewellery.
Princess Firyal told jurors how she kept her jewellery at home, explaining that she was a longtime collector and often stored pieces in open cupboards or left them on counters. She said she did not keep the jewellery hidden because it was often part of her everyday life. The court then heard that Taborda Henao was the only member of the princess's staff left at the property after Princess Firyal travelled to Jordan.
Moreover, prosecutors allege that Henao's nephew, Julian Ramirez, helped with the sale of the jewellery. The Independent reported that Ramirez transferred £17,835 to Taborda Henao between June 2019 and November 2020.
Princess Firyal's former housekeeper continues to deny the allegation, and the case remains before the court. For now, the story of the distinctive ring serves as the key link between the princess's missing jewellery and the auction listings that reportedly brought the alleged theft to light.
