A pair of slippers left in a Scots museum collection for more than 140 years have been identified as having belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte's sister.

The tiny silk and leather shoes were left to Aberdeen University by Robert Wilson, a doctor who graduated from the university before travelling the world.

Mr Wilson died in 1871 and clothes, jewellery and objects he collected while working as a ship's surgeon with the East India Company were passed to the museum.

The history of the slippers was uncovered by assistant curator Louise Wilkie, pictured, who started cleaning and sorting Mr Wilson's collection.

She said: "Wilson had a friendship with Princess Pauline Borghese, the sister of Napoleon Bonaparte. She spent a lot of time with him travelling in Italy and gave him many gifts."

Neil Curtis, head of museums at the university, said: "It was a great piece of detective work from Louise to piece together the story behind the slippers."

Picture: PA