The buttonholes were to fasten the drawers to the chemise. The leg tucks were due to her diminished height. During the last years of her life in the 1890's the Queen's height was 4 ft 7 in; 1.40 m compared with a height in 1837 of 4ft 11 in; 1.50 m. This loss of height in old age is quite natural and is reflected in the neat tucks made to shorten her drawers . At the end of her life her waist measurement was 46 in; 1.17 cmThe linen is particularly fine. Together with newspaper cuttings from 1977 for £ 160 when they were purchased at a Bonham's auction by a Mrs Edone Boughton Adderley, of Cheyne Place, Chelsea. All the Queen's underwear appears to have been dist ributed at her death to members of the Royal Household. The Queen's cypher was always worked on each garment; the numbering system associated with the cyphers in not understood today but it is likely that the garments were ordered in quantities and then worn in rotation. See: Staniland, Kay In Royal FashionThe Clothes of Princess Charlotte of Wales and Queen Victoria 1796-1901. p 166
open fine linen drawers, hand embroidered in blue cotton with the royal monogram of a crown, VR and no 15, the shaped and gently gathered waistband with a buttonhole centre front and one slightly lower, with back fastening of a Dorset button and tape ties, the hems with three pleats , gussets to the crutch, the back with a further button near the crutch, the legs with diagonal tucks, French seams throughout, 38 in; 97 cm waist
Very crisp and fresh. There are two cocoa coloured stains near the waistband at the back, which might possibly be removed. There are some odd brown rust markings, three tothe front and two to the back.
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