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 The BBC's James Coomarasamy in Paris"A much-disputed legend says the heart was salvaged by a royalist doctor"  real 28k  |
France's royal riddle
The heart may or may not be that of Marie Antoinette's son
By James Coomarasamy in Paris
A Belgian professor of human genetics, Jean Jacques Cassiman, removes what appears to be a pickled walnut from his laboratory fridge - in fact, what he is holding could be the key to a 200-year-old French royal mystery.
A Belgian professor of human genetics, Jean Jacques Cassiman, removes what appears to be a pickled walnut from his laboratory fridge - in fact, what he is holding could be the key to a 200-year-old French royal mystery.
We feel orphans since we killed the King, Louis XVI, in 1793  |
Stephan Bern
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It is a piece of a heart, believed to belong to the son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, who died at a tender age in the Temple prison in Paris.
A much-disputed legend says the heart was salvaged by a royalist doctor and then passed from country to country.
Now, scientists are trying to find the truth by comparing DNA from the fragment with Marie Antoinette's.
Incarcerated
Professor Cassiman hopes to solve the royal riddle.
"If the DNA we get from the heart fits with the mother and her two sisters, we have proved that the Dauphin did indeed die in the Temple in Paris.
"Whereas now there is still this unofficial story that the Dauphin was exchanged for another child, escaped and has descendants"
A much-disputed legend says the heart was salvaged by a royalist doctor and then passed from country to country.
Now, scientists are trying to find the truth by comparing DNA from the fragment with Marie Antoinette's.
Incarcerated
Professor Cassiman hopes to solve the royal riddle.
"If the DNA we get from the heart fits with the mother and her two sisters, we have proved that the Dauphin did indeed die in the Temple in Paris.
"Whereas now there is still this unofficial story that the Dauphin was exchanged for another child, escaped and has descendants"
 The results of the DNA tests are due out shortly
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Someone who knows all about that is the Duke de Beaufroment - the ageing aristocrat who has been entrusted with the heart for the past 25 years.
In the Saint Denis Basilica, outside Paris, he showed me the alcove where the heart has been kept behind a glass jar.
He wants the mystery to be solved. There are 150 people with reasonable claims to be Louis XVII, he says
"We've already ruled one out by doing similar DNA tests, but that caused us plenty of problems."
Fascination
Not everyone is convinced these tests should be taking place - for instance, the current heir to the French throne, the Count of Paris.
In the Saint Denis Basilica, outside Paris, he showed me the alcove where the heart has been kept behind a glass jar.
He wants the mystery to be solved. There are 150 people with reasonable claims to be Louis XVII, he says
"We've already ruled one out by doing similar DNA tests, but that caused us plenty of problems."
Fascination
Not everyone is convinced these tests should be taking place - for instance, the current heir to the French throne, the Count of Paris.
 A fragment of the mystery heart
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But surely this whole dispute is purely academic in a country which is proud to be a republic?
Well, not entirely. France may no longer have its royalty, but it is fascinated by the concept.
So great is the notoriety of the country's most famous royal watcher, Stephan Bern, that he has his own puppet in the French equivalent of Spitting Image.
"I think the French are interested in monarchy because we feel orphans since we killed the King, Louis XVI, in 1793.
"Look now at the interest we have in the British royal family. We know all the gossip about the Windsors. They belong to our country somehow."
Baited breath
The results of the test will be known in the next few weeks.
If they are authentic, the royalists will call for a fitting burial ceremony.
But Professor Cassiman says amid the rejoicing, there may be some soul searching.
"Some people will be delighted if it's not from Louis XVII, others will be disappointed.
"I can imagine that if this is proven to be the heart of Louis XVII, it will be exposed as one of the kings who died in the Temple as a child."
His death would be on the conscience of those responsible, the professor says.
But he may prefer this to the alternative - scores of DNA donors, eager to donate their DNA and prove that they are the rightful kings or queens of France.
Well, not entirely. France may no longer have its royalty, but it is fascinated by the concept.
So great is the notoriety of the country's most famous royal watcher, Stephan Bern, that he has his own puppet in the French equivalent of Spitting Image.
"I think the French are interested in monarchy because we feel orphans since we killed the King, Louis XVI, in 1793.
"Look now at the interest we have in the British royal family. We know all the gossip about the Windsors. They belong to our country somehow."
Baited breath
The results of the test will be known in the next few weeks.
If they are authentic, the royalists will call for a fitting burial ceremony.
But Professor Cassiman says amid the rejoicing, there may be some soul searching.
"Some people will be delighted if it's not from Louis XVII, others will be disappointed.
"I can imagine that if this is proven to be the heart of Louis XVII, it will be exposed as one of the kings who died in the Temple as a child."
His death would be on the conscience of those responsible, the professor says.
But he may prefer this to the alternative - scores of DNA donors, eager to donate their DNA and prove that they are the rightful kings or queens of France.
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