Macron’s chief butler is arrested after vintage tableware used to entertain King Charles is stolen in rip-off the place plates, cups and dishes value hundreds disappeared
The chief butler at France’s presidential palace has been arrested for allegedly stealing antique tableware worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Hundreds of porcelain plates, cups, and silver dishes have disappeared from the Elysée Palace under the nose of President Emmanuel Macron and his first lady, Brigitte Macron.
Much of it had been used to entertain world figures, including King Charles and Queen Camilla at state banquets and other formal dinners.
Thomas M, who is in his 40s, was arrested alongside his partner, and an antique porcelain dealer Ghislain M., 30, during simultaneous raids on two homes and a business last week.
All three have confessed to their involvement in what police described as a ‘highly organised operation’, which took place over a period of two years.
Thomas M, who is only being identified by his first name and the initial of his surname, had worked at the Elysée Palace for the past five years.
His job involved setting tables with meticulous precision and managing the inventory of all items used.
Much of the stolen goods were from a porcelain factory in Sèvres, which was founded in 1756 by Madame de Pompadour, the mistress of King Louis XV.
Hundreds of porcelain plates, cups, and silver dishes used to entertain world figures, including King Charlesand Queen Camilla have been stolen
King Charles III of the United Kingdom and Queen Consort Camilla arrive at Elysee Palace for an informal meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in 2023
The antique tableware was stolen from Elysée Palace under the nose of President Emmanuel Macron and his first lady, Brigitte Macron
A few of the stolen items were also ordered in 2018 by the French Presidency, for around £400,000.
All were stamped with the words ‘Elysée Palace,’ which would have made them extremely hard to sell.
An investigating source said: ‘The scheme lasted two years before the arrests this week.
‘A lot of the stolen items were recovered, thanks to the raids.
‘Some were hidden in the chief suspect’s bedroom. All were neatly wrapped and placed in drawers.
‘All of the suspects, including the chief waiter, will appear at the Paris Criminal Court after confessing to the crimes while in custody, and pledging to return everything.
‘It is thought that the waiter discreetly removed the items, one by one, over some two years, before falsifying the Elysée’s tableware inventory.
‘The disappearances eventually became too numerous to hide, and security staff were alerted.’
Last Tuesday, gendarmes from the Paris Regional Investigation Service carried out three simultaneous arrests in the Loiret department, south of Paris, where Thomas M. and his partner live, as well as in Versailles, where Ghislain M. works.
Thomas Malvolti, her lawyer, said: ‘I think she was probably overwhelmed by her passion.’
Referring to the chief waiter, Mr Malvolti said: ‘He got caught up in a kind of spiral, and he even said during his police custody that he was relieved that it was all finally over because he was starting to feel completely out of his depth.’
Ghislain M. also works part-time as a gallery attendant at the Louvre art museum, which was raided by four thieves in October.
In another heritage theft, more than £75million worth of jewellery described as France’s ‘crown jewels’ was taken.
All of the Louvre suspects are now in custody, but the jewellery remains missing.
The Elysee suspects are expected to go on trial at the Paris Correctional Court in February 2026.
In France, even those who confess to a crime are entitled to a trial to assess the extent of their involvement in offences.
