The Kington Saddle used by Queen Elizabeth I goes under the hammer

An historic saddle used by Queen Elizabeth I and once owned by writer Miles Kington, who joked it held a bizarre and terrible curse, is expected to fetch more than £10,000 at auction.

The emerald green quilted saddlecloth, used by the Virgin Queen on a Royal visit to Bristol in 1574, will go under the hammer at auctioneer Dreweatts’ sale of militaria at Donnington Priory near Newbury on September 26.

It is elaborately decorated with gold lace and a gold fringe and has been an heirloom in the Kington family for generations.

Elizabeth used the saddle as she rode through the cobbled streets of Bristol in a spectacular procession in 1574 where she watched a three-day mock battle and received a £100 gift of gold from the city leaders.

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Mr Kington, a celebrated columnist who wrote for The Times, The Independent and Punch and lived at Limpley Stoke, was best-known for his hilarious Let’s Parler Franglais! books, before his death from cancer four years ago, aged 66.

The saddlecloth is estimated to sell for £8,000 to £10,000 when it goes under the hammer

And there will be an added bonus for the successful bidder.

For Mr Kington explained the untold story of The Kington Saddle, in his own inimitable style, to his wife Caroline shortly before his death and a copy will be included in the sale.

Dreweatts’ militaria specialist Malcolm Claridge said: “Queen Elizabeth I’s saddlecloth is an absolutely unique royal artefact from the Elizabethan era.

“It is in extremely good condition considering it is 438 years old, and we are expecting a lot of international interest.

“It is mounted in a glass display case and bears a plaque which states ‘Queen Elizabeth’s Saddle, on which she rode on her State visit to Bristol 1574. Afterwards presented to a member of the Kington family’.”