A pair of Queen Victoria’s, somewhat sizeable, 52-inch-waist bloomers have been bought for £6,200.

The knee-length, silk undergarment was sold at Westernhanger Auctioneers near Folkestone in Kent by an overseas buyer who, strangely enough, wished to remain anonymous.

Auctioneer Michael Hogben described the 19th century item as “very large”. They are thought to be in excellent condition and discreetly feature the late Queen’s emblem, as well as the number 36 – the laundry batch.

“She wore them towards the end of her life when she had eaten a lot more than most people could afford to,” he said.

Keep Reading