Baby clothes worn by Queen Victoria are set to make more than £1,000 when they go under the hammer in Derbyshire this week <Oct 9>.
The tiny set, made up of booties, socks and a bonnet, were thought to be gifted by the late queen to a royal nanny.
The delightful clothing is at odds with portraits of the famously dark-clad monarch in later life.
Charles Hanson said: “Over the years we have been lucky enough to sell items of clothing worn by one of this country’s most famous monarchs, including her bloomers with a 50in waist. But never anything this small. It is strange to think that the monarch we think of as being an unsmiling dowager, dressed in black, was once a bouncing baby girl.”
The small leather booties, which measure just 12.5cm, would have been worn by Victoria at the age of one, while the lace socks and bonnet would have likely graced by the future monarch in her crib.
Charles continued: “It’s so exciting to uncover historical items relating to Queen Victoria. Clothing connected to her is greatly sought after, especially items from her child and babyhood which are very rare.”
The clothes were once owned by Phyllis Blanchard, a former royal nanny from Leominster who died in 2005 aged 91.
She gave them to her great niece Chlöe Kay, a hairdresser from Exeter, who consigned them for sale due to health issues.
Chlöe Kay said: “My great aunt was known to the royal charges in her care, including Prince Charles, as “Nanny Bun” because she had long hair which she kept in a smart bun.
“She was known for being very fierce with a no-nonsense approach. The prince must have been fond of her though because he visited her in care home in Leominster.”
According to Chlöe, the baby clothes were given to her great aunt Phyllis by the late queen.
She said: “Royals had a great tradition of giving gifts to their staff and this is one example of the queen’s generosity.”
Victoria was born at Kensington Palace on May 24, 1819. She was the only daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent, fourth son of George III.
According to records Victoria was a podgy, smiling baby, with dimples and fair hair.
She had the nickname ‘Drina’ a diminutive of her birthname Princess Alexandrina.
One observer of the royal baby said she had “a sweet blush rose upon her cheeks, that imparted a peculiar brilliancy to her clear blue eyes.”
As a baby she was brought up under the “Kensington System” a restrictive regime imposed by her mother, the Duchess of Kent and Sir John Conroy.
The young princess faced constant supervision, with no play mates – a system designed to keep her under strict adult control.
In 2008, Hansons sold a pair of Queen Victoria’s bloomers for £4,500, a chemise for £3,800 and a nightdress for £5,200. In 2020, a collection of Queen Victoria’s clothing – found in a Norfolk wardrobe – achieved more than £17,000.
It included boots, bodices, skirt, chemise, stockings, parasol and bloomers. Two pairs of leather boots by J Sparks-Hall of London, a black taffeta skirt and two bodices were secured for a total of £14,000 by Historic Royal Palaces, an independent charity which looks after London’s Kensington Palace.
Auction Details
Auction: Hansons Derbyshire Fine Art Auction
Auction date: 9th October 2025 | 9:30am
Location: Hansons Derbyshire Saleroom
Auction contact: [email protected]
Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk | www.the-saleroom.com
