An oil painting of Queen Victoria and her servant John Brown is expected to fetch £30,000 at an auction this week.

The painting by artist Charles Burton Barber is said to have been a personal gift from the Queen to Mr Brown and shows the pair celebrating his 50th birthday on August 26, 1876.

Barber is believed to have been one of Victoria’s favourite artists as he produced a number of works for her.

When he died in 1894, aged 49, the Queen is said to have sent an aide to his funeral with a wreath bearing the message: “A mark of admiration and regard from Victoria R.I.”

The oil painting is among 500 royal artefacts, which include letters, furniture and other artwork, from Old Battersea House, the London home of publishing family Forbes. They will be sold by auctioneers Lyon and Turnbull at their Edinburgh salesroom on Tuesday, November 1.

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