Queen Victoria’s voluminous bloomers, discovered tucked away in a wardrobe, are now set to go under the hammer.
Alongside her chemise and shoes, the undergarments were unearthed in Somerset and are expected to draw significant bids, with the bloomers valued at around £5,000 and the chemise at £3,000.
Queen Victoria, renowned for her era-defining reign and status as the second-longest reigning monarch in history, wore the crown for 63 years.
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The items, carefully preserved by an Ilminster family with connections to Victorian high society, have been treasured for more than a century.
The bloomers offer a glimpse into the Queen’s size, with a waistband measuring 51 cm (approximately 20 inches), expanding to a 102 cm (40 inches) circumference.
The chemise is even wider, with a 148 cm (58.2 inches) circumference, VKNews24 reports.
Auctioneer Charles Hanson of Hansons Auctioneers remarked on the rarity of such finds, noting the intrigue they generate among collectors of royal memorabilia.
“These open-drawers, chemise, and shoes are likely from Victoria’s later years, reflecting a woman who was larger than life in many respects.
Though she was petite at her coronation, her fondness for food saw her waist grow to 50 inches over the decades.”
These royal garments, believed to date from the 1880s or 1890s, will be up for auction on November 28, providing collectors a rare chance to own clothing linked to Queen Victoria.
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SOURCE: Iconic monarch’s baggy bloomers set to be snapped up for £5,000 after being found in wardrobee
