Antique Christmas tree ornaments which once belonged to Queen Victoria have sold for just under £1,500 at auction.

The festive decorations were sold on December 6 and included a doll in a woven crib and a wax doll which was missing one leg.

The two 120-year-old ornaments were expected to fetch between £1,000 and £1,500 when they went under the hammer.

Daniel Hadden, from Wivelsfield Green who decided to sell the decorations this winter, said he bought them from the descendants of Rosie Ellison, a servant of an Elsie Young.

He said: “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 important she left them to her servant, Rosie Ellison.”

Daniel, a royal historian, added that he loved Christmas and early Christmas decorations but had decided to sell the ornaments so someone else could enjoy them this festive season.

The decorations sold for a total of £1,443, including the buyer’s premium, when they went under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers.

Bargain Hunt star Charles Hanson, who owns Hanson auctioneers, called them the “ultimate festive bauble”.

He added: “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.”