A set of 17th century cards used in a game with King Charles II has been uncovered after more than 300 years in the same family.

The rare item was found in an attic along with a note connecting them to both Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells.

The late 18th century handwritten note reads: “Cards that King Charles & Queen Catherine played with at my great Grandfather’s, Mr Amherst of Riverhead on their way to Tunbridge Wells.”

The monarch and his Portuguese wife travelled regularly to the town to take advantage of the spa waters – in the hope of improving the Queen’s fertility.

Catherine of Braganza was a very keen card enthusiast and would shock devout Protestants of the time by playing on Sundays.

The note also mentions Jeffery Amherst who was a barrister, MP and bencher of Gray’s Inn living at Riverhead, near Sevenoaks.

Following the death of one of his descendents, the set was discovered in an attic in Blakeney, Norfolk.

The historic item features as part of the Furniture, Works of Art and Clocks auction held at Woolley and Wallis in Salisbury today (October 4) and tomorrow.

The cards carry a pre-sale estimate of £2,000 to £3,000.

Works of Art specialist Mark Yuan-Richards said: “The fine condition of these cards and the fact that it is a complete set, suggests that they may have only been used by the Royal couple and then put away for posterity.

“The vendor inherited the set from his great-aunt, who kept them boxed away in her attic.

“We can trace her family back through eight generations to Jeffery Amherst so the set has clearly been passed down over the centuries and treasured all that time.”

The cards are believed to have been made by Robert Whitfield, who was a one-time Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards.

They are also marked as “superfine” and have been given gilt edges – meaning that they were of the best quality.

“Playing cards from this time are scarce survivals, given the delicate nature of their material and the way they were often manhandled during games,” Mark added.

“Full sets are even more scarce and the remarkable provenance of these marks them out as true museum pieces.”