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Overview
Queen Victoria's underwear was distributed at her death in 1901 to members of the Royal Household. Many examples of her 'capacious underwear' from the 1890s survive in public and private collections. These drawers were probably given to Mrs Louisa Jane Seddon when she attended the Coronation of Edward VII in London in 1902.
These drawers are the 'garb of an elderly and rheumatic woman' whose waist had expanded with age. All her clothes were constructed so that they were easy to put on and take off as can be seen in the simple one-button opening at the front of these drawers. They also had to accommodate the long chemises that were tucked into them - both undergarments providing warmth under the Queen's full-skirted dresses.
The Queen's cipher was discreetly embroidered into each garment. The numbering system (in this case '35') was to help the household staff to identify and sort the linen after laundering, and possibly because such garments were ordered in quantities and then worn in rotation.