Viceroy of Ireland’s jewels sold at auction for almost €30,000

The ceremonial jewels worn by the Viceroy of Ireland 120 years ago have been sold at auction for twice the estimate at £21,250 (€29,800).

The insignia of the "Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick" was found in a duchess's London bank vault. Lord Houghton wore the jewels while serving as Queen Victoria's lord lieutenant of Ireland in Dublin during the 1890s and they were later inherited by his daughter Mary, Duchess of Roxburghe.

Following her death in England last year at the age of 99, her estate is being sold at Sotheby's, whose auctioneers were dispatched to draw up an inventory of her possessions.

They discovered a grand master’s badge and star of the Order of St Patrick hidden away in trunks filled with tiaras and other family treasures in the vaults of Hoare’s private bank.

On Wednesday, they auctioned the ceremonial jewels, which were estimated to be worth up to £12,000 (€16,800).

The Order of St Patrick was the British monarchy’s order of chivalry – a branch of the honours system – used to reward those in high office in Ireland.

Members – men only - were known as knights of St Patrick and held ceremonies in St Patrick’s Hall in Dublin Castle, the headquarters of British rule in Ireland.