A pottery goat made by King Charles when he was a student 55 years ago has fetched more than £11,000 at an auction.

The ceramic animal was given to Raymond Patten by his great aunt, who was a cook at Cambridge University, where the monarch studied from 1967 to 1970.

Believed to be the only piece of pottery created by Charles in existence, it sparked a bidding battle before selling to a private American buyer on Tuesday. 

The newly-discovered artwork hammered at £8,500 - with the premium-inclusive total paid reaching £11,407 at Hansons Auctioneers in Staffordshire.

Retired carpenter Raymond, 76, from British Columbia, Canada, was first gifted the ceramic piece as a 21st birthday present.

He said he 'treasured' it for all of his life but had decided to part with the royal piece of art due to its 'historical significance'.

It's understood the then-Prince of Wales may have been inspired to craft the yellow, pink and brown striped sculpture by the goat mascot of The Royal Regiment of Wales.

Raymond said: 'My Aunt Nellie, Helen Patten, gave me the goat on my 21st birthday on June 22, 1969. She told me Prince Charles had made it.

'She was proud of the fact he attended Cambridge University in the late 1960s when she worked as a cook for the president of Queen's College.

'I believe she knew the future king on a personal basis. I have treasured the goat all my life.

'My aunt, who passed away at the age of 87 in 1993 in Cheshire, was honoured to serve members of the royal family. She cooked a meal for the Queen Mother.'

Auction house owner Charles Hanson, who has appeared on Bargain Hunt, Flog It! and Antiques Road Trip, said: 'This simple ceramics piece proved itself to be the Greatest Of All Time goats.

'People the world over are fascinated by British royalty and the opportunity to own a unique item crafted by King Charles sparked major interest. 

'Though a keen artist, he is better known for his paintings, so this was a rare opportunity.

'I am delighted we achieved a good result for our client.'

The then-Prince Charles was admitted to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1967 to read Archaeology and Anthropology and then History.

He became the first British heir apparent to earn a university degree, graduating Bachelor of Arts in June, 1970.

'Raymond initially got in touch by email and we were hugely excited,' the auction house owner added.

'We've been privileged to auction other early artworks by King Charles and the interest is always phenomenal.

'Such is the goat's importance, Raymond flew to the UK to deliver it to us in person at Hansons' Staffordshire saleroom, Bishton Hall.

'The ceramic highland goat with its yellow horns and yellow, pink and brown stripes is beautifully enamelled and modelled.

'It captures the relaxed vibrancy and charm of the late 1960s/early 1970s.

'Perhaps King Charles was inspired by the goat mascot of The Royal Regiment of Wales.

'As the regiment's first colonel-in-chief, he wore its uniform at his investiture as Prince of Wales in 1969.

'Raymond decided to part with the goat due to its historical significance.

'He is in his retirement years and wanted to find it a new home where it would be treasured for decades to come.'

The auctioneers previously sold childhood drawings by King Charles of his mother and father, Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh.

Inscribed 'Mummy' and 'Papa', they were produced by Charles when he was five or six years old between 1953-55.

They were guided at £5,000-£10,000 but achieved a premium inclusive total of £59,800 in June last year.