A unique set of porcelain plates and dessert platters commissioned by King Louis-Philippe I of France and believed to have been used just once, for a visit by Queen Elizabeth II, is to be auctioned in Paris.

The 98 pieces, embossed in gold and each painted with the image of a different animal, were found in a dining room cabinet at Chateau de Sassy, ​​in Normandy. They are expected to bring in almost half a million pounds, as the “Guardian” newspaper writes.

The Queen stayed at the tower in May 1967. Florence Baron-Reverdito stated that she discovered the porcelain set, which Louis Philippe I gave to Étienne-Denis Pasquier, baron and later duke, after she was asked to appraise certain objects in the tower . Sassy records show that the service was made by Sèvres, the official royal plate maker, in 1842 and delivered on July 6, 1843.

“We went from room to room and a family member opened this cupboard. At first we had a hard time because it was locked and we had to find the key. Then came the shock of discovery,” said Florence Baron-Reverdito.

“What surprised me was the number of plates – there are 75 – each with scenes of different animals and all in excellent condition. Even the family were surprised, as it appears it had never been used, except for a lunch and a dinner when Queen Elizabeth was invited to the tower.’ In an interview after Elizabeth II’s death, Sybille Goirand, the chateau’s owner, recalled her parents preparing their home for the royal visit when she was six years old.

“I had to jump on the bed to soften it because the mattress was made of wool and my parents were afraid it would be too hard for the queen,” he told France Bleu radio. “He showed up with 40 suitcases and we had to hire someone to cook.”

Manuela Finaz de Villaine, a ceramics expert who examined the set, said: “This is a historical collection, documenting the knowledge that scientists had at the time about the animals that lived on these continents. It is rare because it was a royal gift. It is whole and in wonderful condition.”