Last March, Year 2 pupils at Samuel White’s infants school in Hanham, Bristol, were similarly delighted to receive a letter from Windsor Castle stating that the monarch had been pleased to hear from them and thanked them for their designs. Book awards Tudor clothing was time-consuming to don and doff, stiff, heavy, hot, never comfortable, never really clean and probably never free of accumulated body odours and the perfumes to mask them. Patterned with decorative stitching, heavy with embroidery, jewels and trumpery, over garments lay layer upon layer over corsets, shifts, bodices and other undergarments, some exaggerating the body’s natural shape, others camouflaging it.”

He didn’t get off so lightly this time and was sentenced to three months’ hard labour. His break-in also caused uproar, with an additional three guards then being appointed to watch the palace.Another option for women from 1877 was “combinations”, these rivalled drawers and was popularised by Dr Jaeger in the late 1880s. Combinations were essentially a camisole attached to drawers and they eliminated the need for a chemise. As time progressed combinations became frillier and more elegant, slowly emerging into lingerie like designs. Initially, combinations were made from linen, silk, calico or cambric in pink or cream tones, but by 1892 silk or fine muslins were the preferred fabrics.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in. Victorian royal clothing comes up for sale occasionally, but rarely in this excellent condition,” he said. The teenager was sentenced to three months in a house of correction, an establishment created thanks to the passing of the Elizabethan Poor Law (1601).

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Jones was chased down by police, who found him with several pairs of the Queen’s underwear stuffed down his trousers. But then we are reminded that the S-bend corset from the early 20th century was also designed to accentuate the rear end and a handspan waist. The most extreme corset in the whole show is one designed by the celebrated French corsetier Mr Pearl – whose own waist is only 18 inches (45.7cm) and who wears a corset 24 hours a day – for the performance artist Dita Von Teese, at 18 inches and studded with Swarovski crystal. Without the foundation garments the shape of the dress of the period would be unable to be achieved so it is a very important part of the costumes.

Cheryl Meddins, a teacher at the school, said: “The children were so excited, jumping up and down when we received the letter. To be honest we all were.” Edmonds, the principal auctioneer at Chippenham auction rooms in Wiltshire, dated the underwear to the late 1890s by measuring the waistline. Still not had enough? Follow the link here to buy our latest book, filled to the brim with stories about our amazing record breakers.

In later life, it’s said Jones became an alcoholic and a burglar before moving to Australia and trying to reinvent himself. All of the items, from the Yesterday’s World museum in East Sussex, bear the stamp VR, short for Victoria Regina.