A former Jordanian princess has accused her longtime housekeeper of orchestrating the theft of her unique engagement ring during the COVID-19 pandemic. Firyal Irshaid, the ex-wife of Prince Muhammad bin Talal, made these allegations during her testimony in a London court.
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Irshaid, who is 82, claimed that when she left her London apartment in March 2020, she was forced to leave behind the ring, as the closing of airports loomed due to the pandemic. “It was the last plane leaving before they shut the airport in Jordan,” she recounted in court. Her departure was urgent, prompted by a call from her son warning that she had only a few hours to board the flight. At the time, Irshaid did not want to remain in London alone, as she had no family there.
According to the allegations presented in court, the housekeeper, Taborda Henao, who had been employed by Irshaid for over a decade, was the only staff member left in the princess’s home during her absence. Irshaid alleged that Henao collaborated with her nephew, Julian Ramirez, to arrange the theft and subsequent sale of the engagement ring, along with several other pieces of jewellery.
Irshaid described her living arrangement, indicating that her valuables were often left accessible in various locations within her residence. “Every room I live in has jewellery everywhere, in cupboards, but they are open,” she said. “Most of the time it’s on the counter, what I was wearing that week. It was not hidden; anyone could come and take what they wanted — if they meant to.”
The princess learned of the ring’s disappearance in an unexpected way. She testified that Pierre Jeannet, the high-end jeweller who created the ring, contacted her in November 2020 after spotting the distinctive piece on the cover of an auction catalogue. “He told me my ring, made specially for my engagement, was on the cover of a catalogue in an auction house,” Irshaid recalled.
A subsequent investigation revealed more concerning details. A search of Henao’s home in Fulham uncovered additional items belonging to Irshaid, including her wedding ring, a pair of earrings, and a jewelled metal necklace. The inquiry also found that Ramirez had reportedly transferred around $23,500 to Henao between June 2019 and November 2020, raising further suspicions about their activities.
Henao has pleaded not guilty to the charge of theft by an employee. Meanwhile, Ramirez is believed to have fled to Colombia in October, shortly after being released on bail. The case continues to unfold as both parties prepare for further legal proceedings.
Irshaid’s marriage to Prince Muhammad lasted from 1964 until their divorce in 1989, during which they welcomed two sons, Prince Talal, aged 61, and Prince Ghazi, aged 59. After their separation, the princess was linked romantically to prominent individuals, including Greek shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos and American banker Lionel Pincus.
In April 2021, Prince Muhammad bin Talal passed away in Amman while married to his second wife, Taghrid Majali. The ongoing court case highlights not only the complexities of the royal family’s history but also raises concerns about trust and loyalty among those close to public figures.
As the legal proceedings develop in Southwark Crown Court, Irshaid’s allegations and the associated theft case remain in the spotlight, drawing significant attention from both media and the public.