Queen Victoria's undergarments auctioned

A pair of her bloomers, a chemise and a nightdress went under the hammer at Mackworth in Derby for 13,500 pounds ($27,000).

The cotton bloomers are monogrammed with a VR (Victoria Regina) and attracted bids from as far as Brazil, Russia, Hong Kong and New York. They finally went to a lady from Canada for 4,500 pounds, according to auctioneer Charles Hanson.

A London collector snapped up Queen Victoria's chemise for 3,800 pounds. Her nightdress sold for 5,200 pounds to an American collector.

Hanson told The Guardian: 'The atmosphere was electric and I am delighted that Victoria has been given a good send-off.'

The sizes of the garments gave an indication of her majesty's measurements. For instance, her bloomers, dating back to the 1880s, measure 50 inches at the waist. The chemise has a 66-inch bust. The nightdress is only 50 inches long, suggesting she was as short as she was stout.

Queen Victoria's underwear had been kept by one of her ladies-in-waiting and was sold by a family from Lincolnshire, who are said to be 'delighted' with the outcome.

One of Queen Victoria's secrets is out – she wore rather big bloomers – and a chemise to match.

A pair of her bloomers sold for £4,500 at an auction in Mackworth, Derby today - exceeding all expectations.

The monarch's modest cotton drawers, monogrammed with a tiny VR (for Victoria Regina), attracted bids from as far afield as Brazil, Russia, Hong Kong and New York.

After intense bidding they finally went to a "lady of leisure" from Canada, according to auctioneer Charles Hanson.

"The atmosphere was electric and I am delighted that Victoria had been given a good send-off," he said.

The auction showed that the queen was very curvy indeed towards the end of her life. The regal knickers, dating from the 1890s, have a waist measuring 50 inches (127cm).

She had quite a cleavage too: a chemise with an impressive 66-inch (168cm) bust was snapped up by a collector from London for £3,800.

It seems the queen was as short as she was stout - her nightdress, measuring a mere 50 inches from shoulder to hem, sold for £5,200 to an American collector.