A brooch that belonged to Queen Victoria has sold for 14 times more than expected at auction.

The gold, enamel and garnet bodice brooch made in 1830 sold for £11,400 at Bonhams auctioneers in London’s Knightsbridge yesterday – 14 times its pre-sale estimate.

The finely detailed brooch is embellished with green and red enamel, set with cabochon garnets that suspend an elongated drop of a similar design.

The brooch originally belonged to Victoria, Duchess of Kent, who on her death in 1861 left her jewellery to her daughter Queen Victoria.

Queen Victoria gave the brooch to her third daughter Helena as a present on her 24th birthday in 1870.

Engraved on the reverse of the brooch are the words: “Belonged to dear Grandmamma V. From Mama V.R. to Helena 25th May 1870.”

Helena, who married the German Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein in 1866, was a very active member of the royal family, carrying out an extensive programme of royal engagements.

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