CAMBRIDGE.- Gifts from Queen Victoria to two of her goddaughters will go under the hammer on 5th November at Cheffins in Cambridge as part of the Jewellery, Silver, Watches and Wine sale.

The collection’s relationship with Queen Victoria began with Charlotte Anne Thynne who was mistress of the robes to the Queen from 1841 onwards. Charlotte Anne Thynne married Walter Francis Montague Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch, on 13th March 1829. The couple were close friends of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who regularly visited their home in Dalkeith, Scotland. The Duke and Duchess’s daughter, Victoria Alexandria Montagu Douglas-Scott was Queen Victoria’s goddaughter.




A locket gifted to the Queen’s goddaughter, Lady Victoria Scott, is available at the Cheffins sale. Set with diamonds, emeralds and rubies, it carries an estimate of £3,000 - £5,000. It is monogrammed with ‘VR’ on the front and has a personal engraving which reads ‘To Lady Victoria Scott, on her marriage Feb y, 23 1865 from Victoria R.’ This locket was gifted on her marriage to Schomberg Henry Kerr, 9th Marquess of Lothian on 23rd February 1865.

Lady Victoria Scott’s daughter, Victoria Alexandrina Alberta Kerr (named as such after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and another of Queen Victoria’s goddaughters), was also gifted jewellery from Queen Victoria for her christening. This was in the form of a 19th century pearl and diamond brooch/pendant which is available for an estimate of £4,000 - £6,000. It comes in an original fitted case with an applied shield engraved ‘To Lady Victoria Alexandrina Alberta Kerr from her Godmother VICTORIA R 11 December 1876.’ This is also along with a cased portrait miniature of the recipient and accompanying letters from Queen Victoria and the recipient’s mother.

Also available within the same collection is a portrait miniature of Charlotte Thynne, Duchess of Buccleuch, attributed to Dumfries-based artist, Robert Thorburn, which has an estimate of £600 - £800. Robert Thorburn went on to be sponsored by the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and moved to London in 1836, aged 15, to study at the Royal Academy. He quickly went on to become a favourite of Queen Victoria who commissioned multiple miniatures from him.

Steven Collins, Head of Jewellery, Silver and Watches comments: “Any jewellery with royal connections is always an exciting find when it surfaces on the art market and these pieces come with cast-iron provenance from direct descent of the family. Never before seen on the open market, these items are historically important, demonstrating Queen Victoria’s love for her two goddaughters and her close friendship with the Buccleuch family back in 19th century. Queen Victoria’s almost mythical reign of 63 years over the United Kingdom makes her a continued source of fascination for people from across the world and it is a privilege to handle jewellery from who must be one of our most famous monarchs.”