Ep 16. England's Vanished Crown Jewels

In Expedition Unknown season 4 episode 16, titled "England's Vanished Crown Jewels," host Josh Gates sets out to uncover the truth behind one of the most notorious heists in British history – the theft of the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London in 1671.

Gates begins his investigation by exploring the history of the jewels themselves, delving into the stories behind each of the individual pieces – from the St. Edward's Crown, which is only worn at coronations, to the Imperial State Crown, which contains the legendary Cullinan II diamond. He also examines the security measures that were in place at the time of the theft, including the Yeoman Warders who guarded the Tower and the various locks and traps designed to keep the jewels safe.

Next, Gates turns his attention to the thieves themselves, a trio of daring criminals who managed to evade the Tower's defenses by orchestrating an elaborate scheme involving bribery, seduction, and a network of underground tunnels. With the help of experts in 17th century history and criminology, Gates pieces together the details of the heist and the subsequent manhunt that followed.

As Gates follows the trail of clues left by the thieves, he uncovers a series of surprising twists and turns. He visits the site of the thieves' hidden workshop, where they crafted replica keys and other tools to aid in their scheme. He also meets with a modern-day locksmith who demonstrates how the thieves might have been able to create a copy of the jewel room's infamous Chubb lock, which was considered virtually unbreakable at the time.

Throughout the episode, Gates is aided by a cast of colorful characters, including a historian who specializes in the Tower of London's "rare beasts" (animals once kept on the Tower grounds as a kind of royal menagerie), a London-based magician who shows Gates some of the techniques used by 17th century pickpockets, and a British metal detectorist who takes Gates on a treasure hunt to a field where a lost piece of the Crown Jewels just might be hidden.

As the episode draws to a close, Gates reflects on the enduring legacy of the stolen Crown Jewels, which have captivated imaginations for centuries. Whether they were melted down and sold for scrap, hidden away in a secret location, or still waiting to be discovered somewhere in England, the missing jewels remain one of history's most tantalizing mysteries – and one that Gates is determined to solve.