Housekeeper cleared of stealing Jordanian princess’s jewels

A housekeeper has been cleared of stealing jewellery from the central London home of a Jordanian princess.

Princess Firyal Irshaid, 81, left the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. While she was away, part of her jewellery collection was taken and put up for sale at an auction house.

Maria Virgelina Taborda Henao, 71, who worked for the princess for 11 years, was accused of stealing the items after being left to look after the Belgravia property. She was cleared of a charge of theft by employee by jurors at Southwark Crown Court.

The court heard police found the princess’s wedding ring, a pair of earrings and a jewelled metal necklace during a search of Taborda Henao’s home in Fulham.

Giving evidence through a Spanish interpreter, Taborda Henao, who is also known as Lina, said she had worked for 30 to 35 households, including the late businessman and peer Lord Anthony Jacobs and a Belgian countess.

She told defence barrister Manveer Cheema that staff found relationships with the princess “very hard”.

Jurors heard the princess would sometimes accuse staff of being thieves before later calming down.

Princess Firyal married Prince Muhammad bin Talal, the younger brother of King Hussein of Jordan, in 1964. The marriage lasted 14 years.