IT WAS the card table where Queen Victoria whiled away the lonely years after the death of her beloved Prince Albert.

Perhaps the Queen sat playing solitaire as she thought about the death of the man who was responsible for the Great Exhibition and from whose tragic death from tyhoid fever in 1861 she never truly recovered.

Or perhaps she was joined by her faithful servant John Brown for a quiet game of bridge - reportedly one of the Queen's favourite games.

Later, the Queen would have been joined at cards by her eldest daughter, Princess Louise, who was born in 1857.

It finally passed into Princess Louise's possession when Victoria died in 1901 at Osborne House in East Cowes- heralding the end of the era when Britain controlled vast tracts of the world.

The card table is just one of two pieces of furniture owned by Queen Victoria on the Isle of Wight which are due to go under the hammer in February.

International fine art auctioneers Bonhams, of New Bond Street in London, will be selling the items on February 11.

The satinwood card table and "chiffoner" were commissioned for use at Kent House near Osborne House in 1866.

Both pieces bear Queen Victoria's inventory stamp VR, KH, O, and were made by high-quality furniture makers Holland and Sons.

Kent House itself was bought by the Royal Family in 1865 and was thought to have acted as overspill accommodation for Osborne, which was a modest size for a royal residence.

It became the home for Princess Louise, Queen Victoria's second eldest daughter, who was considered the most beautiful of the five daughters.

After her death in 1939, the contents of the house were sold at auction.

The two pieces were bought by the seller's in-laws, who owned a hotel next to Kent House.

The card table has been estimated to be worth between £800 and £1,200.