Queen Victoria's voluminous underwear fetched thousands of pounds at auction this week.

A selection of her stockings and underwear were sold alongside hundreds of royal artefacts, including furniture and oil paintings.

The collection comes from the contents of Old Battersea House, in Vicarage Crescent, Battersea - the London home of the Forbes family, the American publishing dynasty.

Among the lots was a pair of white silk bloomers and some black-and-white, hand-stitched silk stockings which she wore when she went into mourning over the death of Prince Albert.

Three pairs of silk stockings, a lace nightgown and a pair of her gloves were also on offer.

All the items, collectively valued at between £1.5 million and £2 million, were on public display this week.

Simon Edsor, director of The Fine Art Society and art adviser to the Forbes family, said: "Examples of the Queen's belongings have long been considered the crowning glory for Victoriana collectors.

"In the past few years several items have come up for auction and made excellent prices, with interest from around the world."

The Forbes family home hosted many public visitors over the years, including former US president Ronald Reagan and Hollywood star Dame Elizabeth Taylor.

The late 17th Century house was bought and restored in 1970 by Malcolm Forbes and his son Christopher Forbes, vice-chairman of the Forbes publishing company, under the guidance of architect Vernon Gibberd.