The Royal Engineers and Scots Dragoon Guards kept the stolen artefacts that are now stored in their regimental museums.
However, the Ethiopian government will now demand the treasures be returned. They will need to persuade unit veterans and serving officers to hand back the items.
This comes after The Telegraph revealed that Ethiopian officials were also seeking the return of items which form part of the King’s Royal Collection.
Officials in Addis Ababa may approach the Ministry of Defence for assistance with their campaign.
These demands will form part of a diplomatic move led by the Ministry of Tourism’s Ethiopian Heritage Authority, which will ask for help from the Labour Government to support returns.
Regarding the Royal Collection’s ownership of religious manuscripts, Abebaw Ayalew Gella, the director general of the heritage authority, said: “It is immoral. You don’t just put them somewhere. They are sacred.”
Referring to the “illuminated” works, which are highly decorated with religious icons, Mr Gella said: “A manuscript with illumination is always considered sacred. You don’t even touch them.”
There is a precedent for returning items held in the Royal Collection after Elizabeth II handed back a royal cap and seal during a state visit to Ethiopia in 1965, when she met with Haile Selassie, the country’s last emperor.
