These are strange times in British culture, what with all the Wills-and-Kate worship set against the backdrop of turmoil over austerity measures and a faltering economy, plus the recent news that the terms of Old Blighty’s outworn monarchical system are being updated to pander slightly less blatantly to the old boys’ club.

Somewhere in the midst of all this confusion comes the startling report that an array of Queen Victoria’s unmentionables have gone on the auction block, and that someone paid £9,735 ($15,534) for a pair of her antiquated underpants. We are uncertain, as we go to print, how to process this information. –KA

BBC:

Two pairs of silk stockings worn by Britain’s longest serving monarch also went under the hammer in Edinburgh – one pair selling for more than £5,000.

The collection belonged to the US publishing dynasty, the Forbes family.

It had previously been held in Old Battersea House – the London home of the family.

More than £3m was made in the sale of Victorian treasures held by auctioneers Lyon and Turnbull at their Edinburgh salesroom.

Read more

Your support matters…

Independent journalism is under threat and overshadowed by heavily funded mainstream media.

You can help level the playing field. Become a member.

Your tax-deductible contribution keeps us digging beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that unearths what's really happening- without compromise.

Give today to support our courageous, independent journalists.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG