Royal Watch News

Royal memorabilia up for auction

Nov 16, 2012, 12:02 GMT

Princess Diana

Britain's Queen Victoria's underpants are being put up for auction.

The late monarch's personal belongings are among the items of royal memorabilia going up for auction in Essex next Tuesday (20.11.12), alongside a piece of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding cake and Princess Diana's personal effects.

James Grinter, an auctioneer at Reeman Dansie, said: 'People just like to own something that has been touched by the Royal Family. These items are very difficult to come by, but we are lucky enough to handle a lot of it.'

A 'rare' silver apple commissioned by Princess Diana is expected to cause the fiercest bidding war out of the 150 lots up for sale since it has already created 'a lot of interest'.

The apple was given as a gift to her dresser Fay Appleby in 1989 and the auctioneers expect it to sell for £3,000.

Princess Diana's personal effects are proving popular, but the 'more personal objects' belonging to Queen Elizabeth are causing the biggest stir so far.

Another item of interest is a signed programme from the 1944 Royal Pantomime 'Old Mother Red Riding Boots', expected to fetch between £500 and £700.

It was written by and starred the queen and her sister Princess Margaret and staged for their parents at Windsor Castle.

The auction of is expected to raise between £70,000 and £80,000.