But even more affection was shown when phone bids from France and Malta came in.

Many items from the Duchess’s household will be passed down to family but, on the instruction of the executors of her estate, others are going under the hammer at Wright Manley’s Salesroom in Beeston.

A total of 130 lots consisting of furniture, china, lamps and odds and ends were sold for £11,000 on Tuesday to an audience of up-to-800 people during the day.

Some bidders, keen not to miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, had travelled from as far afield as Essex and there were telephone bids from France and Malta. Another sale is being held on 30 November, which will include furniture, silverware, plateware and pictures.