The late Patricia Edwina Victoria Mountbatten (1924-2017) was born into nobility and was the great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria and great niece of Russia’s last tsarina.
The 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma was also the daughter of Britain’s last Viceroy of India and among the jewellery in the sale is an Imperial Order of the Crown of India.
This rare Anglo-Indian order, still in its original case, was worn on State occasions by Doreen, Lady Brabourne, Patricia’s mother-in-law. The only person who still wears this Order today, and the last to hold it, is Her Majesty the Queen.
Mounted with diamonds, pearls and turquoises, it is estimated at £15,000-20,000 at Sotheby's.
An amusing memento from Mountbatten’s mother, heiress turned philanthropist Edwina Ashley (1900-60), is her evening bag. The pig-shaped gem-set gold mesh purse by Lacloche Frères, Paris, c.1905 is guided at £2000-3000.
The collection, with estimates ranging from £80-100,000, comes from Mountbatten’s 18th century home Newhouse.
