Two thieves who stole an antique diamond and ruby-studded solid gold lunch box worth over £2million from a museum in southern India ate like royalty out of it for days before being arrested earlier this week, police have said.

The men would order takeaways, empty the food into the majestic three tier-lunchbox that they had pilfered from the Nizam Museum in Hyderabad on 2 September, and "savour each meal they consumed", according to officials.

“The duo confessed to having food from the golden box several times” Hyderabad police commissioner Anjani Kumar said after arresting the two robbers on Tuesday.

Besides the lunch box, police also recovered a golden teacup and saucer studded with rubies and emeralds and a golden spoon, which have a combined worth of £4.5million, that were also stolen from the museum.

The relics belonged to the former Nizam or ruler of Hyderabad state - he was considered one of the world’s richest men in the early 20th century.