Royal box of bonnets will go up for auction

A mahogany box discovered at a home in Staffordshire with links to Queen Victoria is expected to create worldwide interest when it is auctioned next week.

The Royal Bonnet Box, which contains two bonnets with lace decoration, was discovered in Alrewas has provenance to the family of Queen Victoria and is believed to have belonged to her children.

It is set to be auctioned off by Charles Hanson, manager of Hansons Auctioneers on March 25 and is expected to create a worldwide storm from collectors.

Two old exhibition notes together with a letter of provenance confirm the Victorian relics were originally the property of Miss Lydia Greatorex who was in Queen Victoria's service until 1857.Miss Greatorex was employed in the Royal Nurseries and became a personal attendant upon Her Majesty.

Mr Hanson said: "It is remarkable to handle such an important social object and we can only wonder what history the Royal Bonnet box has seen.

"Within the box are two lawn bonnets with drawn thread and lace decoration. It really is a wonderful piece and we are expecting to receive a great deal of interest worldwide next week."

The box would date to around 1850 and was delivered to Hansons antiques valuation day in Alrewas by a woman from Alrewas.

The Royal Bonnet Box is expected to fetch up to £1000 in Hansons auction which is taking place at The Mackworth Hotel, Ashbourne Road, near Derby.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert had nine children, Victoria, Edward, Alice, Alfred, Helena, Louise, Arthur, Leopold and Beatrice.

The auction will include over 1,000 lots. For details call 01283 733 988.