The royal squire whose racy dinner story prompted Queen Victoria’s famous retort: ​​“We didn’t find it funny”

He was a member of the Royal Household for more than three decades and inspired one of Queen Victoria’s most famous retorts: “We’re not amused.”

Now, two of the uniforms worn by the Honorable Alexander Grantham Yorke when he was a Buckingham Palace squire and groom are being auctioned by Drewatts in London on October 16.

Born in 1847, Alick, as he was known, graduated with an MA from Oriel College, Oxford and entered the Household in 1874, aged 27, as squire to Queen Victoria’s eighth son and youngest son, Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany. .

He became the queen’s fiancé in 1884 and, after her death in 1901, took on the role of extra groom to her eldest son, Edward VII.

He remained working for the Royal Family until the king’s death in 1910, but died the following year in Palermo, Sicily, aged 63. He was buried in Hamble-le-Rice, Hampshire.

The Honorable Alexander Grantham Yorke – known to all as ‘Alick’ – was engaged to Queen Victoria and squire to her son Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany

Queen Victoria reigned for 63 years, until her death in 1901 – she didn’t like Alick’s story over dinner, and her cutting retort became her most famous quote.

The first uniform, lot 390, dates from the time when Yorke was Prince Leopold’s squire and consists of a scarlet tunic with blue details and gold embroidery; blue pants with gold lace; blue frock coat with mourning bands; and a coat

The other uniform, lot 388, is from the time when he was engaged to Edward VII and bears the king’s code on the buttons of his tailcoat.

Also in the lot are three cocked hats with assorted clips and buttons; a braided sword knot; and a uniform trunk. It carries an estimate of £500 to £800

“He was attending one of the Queen’s dinners at Windsor Castle and at one point turned to his German neighbor and told him a rather salacious story,” the catalog states.

“The German, who was evidently easily pleased, burst into almost hysterical laughter and began to squeeze his hips in unbridled appreciation.

‘The Queen then asked to hear the story and, after Yorke reluctantly repeated it, she gave her historic reply: “We are not amused.”’

The two uniforms are among more than 400 lots up for auction at Drewatts in a sale titled: Collecting Arcadia: The Collections from Gatewick and Trethill House.

The historic mansion was purchased in 1953 by one of his descendants, lawyer and JP David Yorke, following his marriage to Anne Mackail, great-granddaughter of renowned Pre-Raphaelite artist Sir Edward Burne-Jones.

The Grade II listed house, in Steyning, West Sussex, set in 6.5 acres of land, went on the market earlier this year for £2.95 million and has since been sold.

The first uniform, lot 390, dates from the time when Yorke was Prince Leopold’s squire and consists of a scarlet tunic with blue details and gold embroidery; blue pants with gold lace; blue frock coat with mourning bands; and a coat.

A Vanity Fair Spy cartoon image of ‘Alick’ from 1881. He remained working for the Royal Family until the king’s death in 1910, and died the following year in Palermo, Sicily

The historic Gatewick House was purchased in 1953 by one of Alick’s descendants, the lawyer and JP David Yorke, following his marriage to Anne Mackail, great-granddaughter of the renowned Pre-Raphaelite artist, Sir Edward Burne-Jones.

The Grade II listed house, in Steyning, West Sussex, set in 6.5 acres of land, went on the market earlier this year for £2.95 million.

Comes with a cocked hat with a gold embroidered strap; a crimson and gold band; a dress belt and sling; a pair of brass spurs; and two trunks of uniforms, one labeled Manning & Co, London. It is estimated to raise £400 to £600.

The other uniform, lot 388, is from the time when he was engaged to Edward VII and bears the king’s code on the buttons of his tailcoat.

The lot includes a blue coat with red details and gold embroidery; a blue coat with red details and gold embroidery; the black tailcoat of the Edwardian evening dress with ER VIl buttons; and a pair of white pants.

Also in the lot are three cocked hats with assorted clips and buttons; a braided sword knot; and a uniform trunk. It carries an estimate of £500 to £800.

Other lots include works by 18th-century Scottish artist Allan Ramsay, who was painter to King George III, and 18th-century Italian artist Michelangelo Maestri.