By Elizabeth Pineau

DREUX, France (Reuters) -The Count of Paris, whose great-grandmother once wore the sapphire tiara stolen from the Louvre Museum, has pleaded with the robbers to return the stolen jewels intact for the sake of France’s heritage – and for his family.

“Give us back our jewels, there’s still time,” said Jean d’Orleans, a direct descendant of French kings, speaking to Reuters at the royal domain of Dreux, 70 kilometres (43 miles) southwest of Paris.

“It’s both personal and intimate,” said d’Orleans, 60, as he leafed through family photographs showing his great-grandmother, the Duchess of Guise, wearing the Ceylon sapphire and diamond tiara in 1931. “These jewels were worn on special occasions, family events, sometimes also to create a specific portrait.”

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