Arundel Castle theft: Mary, Queen of Scots' rosary beads row

Rosary beads belonging to Mary, Queen of Scots were stolen during the break-in at Arundel Castle on Friday.

A Twitter storm has broken out over the gold beads, which were carried by Mary Stuart when she was executed.

People supporting Scottish independence questioned what the item was doing in Sussex - with one describing it as a "sick murder trophy".

Other Twitter users jumped in to attack to Scottish "separatists" as being "cranks", slamming them for their "ignorance".

The gold rosary beads carried by Mary, Queen of Scots to her execution have been stolen

Arundel Castle has been the seat of the Dukes of Norfolk and their ancestors for over 850 years.

This includes the fourth Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Howard, who was beheaded in 1572 for plotting to marry Mary, Queen of Scots.

Mary Queen of Scots

She had fled from Scotland to England twenty years prior, following her forced abdication of the Scottish throne.

However Mary, Queen of Scots was then beheaded in 1587 after being accused of plotting to assassinate Queen Elizabeth.

Following the break-in, one Twitter user asked: "What are Mary, Queen of Scots' rosary beads doing in Sussex anyway?"

READ MORE >> Gold and silver worth £1 million stolen

Another said: "You executed Mary, Queen of Scots, stole her rosary beads as some sort of ghoulish momento and now you're claiming someone stole them from you. Aye right."

While a third said: "So you murdered her, stole her rosary beads, which some Catholics are buried with, then someone took your sick murder trophy.

"I would call that karma."

The break-in at Arundel Castle was reported at 10.30pm on Friday when a burglar alarm went off.

Thieves had smashed their way into cabinet displayed along a public route.

The beads were among a number of priceless items stolen during the raid.

Twitter users have since jumped in to defend the castle from the criticism.

"It was only a matter of time before some rabid separatist made a comment and shamed Scotland with their ignorance," said one Twitter user.

Another said: "A museum executed her? The fourth duke tried to marry her.

"He was executed himself and lands were confiscated - later restored to this recusant family.

"In any case, she was trying to depose the English Queen.

"Sussex Heritage, sorry for my countrymen behaving like utter cranks."

Another said: "Literally what are you on about? Thomas Howard was an admirer of Mary, Queen of Scots, fellow Catholic in a very protestant England and even tried to free and marry her.

"He was executed for his allegiance to her.

"Guessing the rosary was a memento gift."

Police are currently hunting for the thieves and appealing for information.

Officers want to establish if an abandoned 4x4 vehicle found on fire in Barlavington nearby was linked.