The Queen's childhood Mickey and Minnie Mouse dolls are put up for sale

Dolls played with by the Queen almost 90 years ago - that include early versions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse - are going up for auction.

The toys were given to the former royal nurse Clara Knight who looked after Queen Elizabeth in her early years while the Queen Mother was undertaking ceremonial duties.

With no children of her own, Miss Knight would send the dolls and clothes to her family at Christmas time.

Ms Knight died in 1946 but her collection, also including the clothes, has remained in her family for the past 71 years.

There are approximately 20 garments in the collection including infant dresses and matching undergarments, many in silks and linen and some in early man made fabrics.

They include a pink silk jacket which belonged to the Queen Mother and colourful 1920s playsuits and dresses worn by the Queen and Princess Margaret.

Two of the garments are labelled Smith and Co of Sloane St, while the rest have no label and are hand stitched.

Several photos accompany the collection including one of the Queen sat on Ms Knight’s lap wearing a bonnet and one of these dresses.

Another photo shows Ms Knight in her nurse’s uniform holding an angelic-looking Queen and smiling at her.

Five of the Queen’s dolls including Mickey and Minnie Mouse dolls made by the traditional British toy maker Dean’s Rag Book Company form part of the sale.

They are all cloth bodied dolls of the 1920s period with original garments.

Ms Knight’s nurse’s uniform from 1910 is also included in the auction.

At one point, the collection was lent to the Bexhill Museum, in East Sussex, for an exhibition.

However, the dolls and garments have been boxed up and tucked away in a house for many years, prompting the family’s decision to put the historic items on the market.

The collection of clothes is expected to sell for £1,500, while the dolls are each valued at £300.

When the Queen Mother was away on ceremonial duties Ms Knight took primary responsibility for looking after the Queen.

Ms Knight’s funeral was attended by the Queen Mother, the Queen and Princess Margaret.

Matt Ellin, specialist at Burstow & Hewett, of Battle, East Sussex, which is selling the collection, said: “It appears she came to the royal family in 1926 when Elizabeth was born and spent many years looking after both the Queen and Princess Margaret.

“The collection came to us in amongst many other household items from an ordinary local house.

“The owners thought the collection was interesting but were very unassuming about the content.

“Clara lived and worked extremely closely with the royal family and was given these clothes and dolls from time to time which she would then send to her family.

“It’s a historic collection and we are expecting worldwide interest.”

The auction takes place on Wednesday.