The Duchess of Cornwall has been pictured marveling at the shirt worn by Colin Firth as he played aloof romantic hero Mr Darcy.

       Many will recognise the garment from the scene when Mr Darcy emerged from a lake with his white shirt soaking wet. He accidentally encounters Miss Elizabeth Bennet on his way to Pemberley Hall.

       Firth's brooding depiction of the character, in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride And Prejudice, inspired a new generation of Jane Austen readers.

       The Duchess, an avid Austen reader, was taken on a tour of the author's former home in the village of Chawton, near Winchester in Hampshire, and was shown clothing from recent television and film adaptations of the 19th century author's work, including Mr Darcy's shirt.

       "But he's not in it, that's a bit sad," Camilla joked after being shown the shirt by Lizzie Dunford, director of Jane Austen's House, who replied: "I know, that's sad, and it's not quite as damp as it was."

       The Duchess quipped: "You could give it a good spray."

       Austen lived at the home from 1809 until the year of her death, 1817, with her mother and sister, both called Cassandra, and friend Martha Lloyd.