Silver cutlery stolen from Britain's Queen Elizabeth has been returned anonymously. The monarch was devastated when several items of irreplaceable crockery and cutlery were taken from her private tent at a Buckingham Palace garden party earlier this month but several spoons have now been posted back to royal staff.

A source said: "Some of the silver King George III spoons have been sent back through the post. Anonymously, of course - someone must have felt guilty."

The theft happened during a downpour at the party, with the queen inviting around 60 guests into her marquee to shelter from the rain.

A source said at the time: "The rain was hammering down. The queen could see all these people getting soaked, so she signaled to them to come inside. There were 50 to 60."

"It seems people slipped items into coats or bags, because when staff came to clear up they discovered not everything could be accounted for. It's very sad that an act of kindness could be treated with what really was two fingers. We can't believe it. It's the talk of the Palace."

"It was an unbelievable abuse of what was a gesture of kindness. Some of these items you cannot put a price on."

As well as the cutlery, staff believe eight side plates, cups marked EIIR and pieces from Queen Victoria's reign were also taken.