Two of Queen Victoria’s Christmas tree decorations are set to sell for up to £1,500 at auction.
The ornaments, dating back more than 120 years, feature a small doll inside a woven crib and a wax doll which is missing one leg.
Queen Victoria gave the festive keepsakes to an aristocratic family who passed them down through the generations.
They were bought by Daniel Hadden, from Wivelsfield Green, near Burgess Hill, who is now selling them in time for someone to enjoy this Christmas.
They are expected to fetch between £1,000 and £1,500 but could sell for far more when they go under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers this week.
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Daniel, a royal historian, said: “I love Christmas, especially early Christmas decorations, the older the better.
“I am interested in royal history and have handled quite a few important royal artefacts over the years.
“I enjoy doing the research to uncover the story behind the objects.
“These decorations were obtained by Miss Elsie H Young (1884-1959), second cousin of Isabella Whichcote.
“Isabella had a grace and favour apartment in Hampton Court and invited Miss Young to a Christmas banquet.
“During the festive celebrations she was given the decorations.
“It has been noted by the Royal Collection Trust that Queen Victoria often gifted items from her Christmas tree to guests.
“Miss Young treasured them all her life. She thought them so importation she left them to her servant, Rosie Ellison.
“I bought the decorations from Rosie’s descendants. She was born in 1902 and worked in service for Miss Young.
“She died in 1959 so that’s probably when Rosie inherited them. They were subsequently passed down through the generations.
“I imagine Miss Young would have been an awestruck teenager when she was given Queen Victoria’s Christmas tree decorations in the late 1800s.
“She was fortunate enough to move in royal circles and would have been 16 in 1900.
“By that time Queen Victoria was close to the end of her life. She passed away at the age of 81 in 1901 after a 63-year reign.
“With Christmas fast approaching I decided it was time to let someone else enjoy these royal festive mementos.
“Someone else can have the pleasure of owning something that belonged to one of Britain’s most famous monarchs, and use them to decorate their tree.”
The royal decorations will go under the hammer at Hansons auction house in Derbyshire on December 7.
TV’s Bargain Hunt star Charles Hanson, who owns the auction house, said: “For any Christmas traditionalist and royalist, this has to be the ultimate festive bauble.
“Very few people in the world can say they have Queen Victoria’s decorations hanging from their Christmas tree.
“These items are historically important. As well as being early festive decorations they remind us that Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert helped to make Christmas what it is today.
“They popularised the use of decorated fir trees in the mid to late 19th century.
“They paved the way to the festive traditions we enjoy. Christmas trees, and their decorations, are a magical part of festive celebrations.”
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