A signed image of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip has been discovered among the many souvenirs within the packed “treasure room” of ousted Syrian chief Bashar al Assad.

Insurgent fighters found the photograph within the dictator’s so-called “Individuals’s Palace” on the sting of Syrian capital Damascus.

The image is hand-signed and dated 2002 – the identical yr Assad and his spouse visited the royals in Buckingham Palace.

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The go to came about two years after Assad took over as Syria’s president – earlier than he grew to become a pariah for his brutal crackdown on the pro-democracy Arab Spring protests of 2011 and the civil conflict that adopted.

Different keepsakes discovered within the packed treasure room included gold and silver shields, ornaments and paintings, quite a few containers and chests, and a FIFA award for the world youth championships.

A rug with Assad’s face on and a number of footage of his spouse turned up elsewhere as insurgent fighters ransacked the palace’s many rooms.

A storage stuffed with dozens of luxurious vehicles, together with a uncommon Ferrari value about £3m, was additionally uncovered this week.

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Sky Information additionally discovered a big fireplace had ripped by means of one in every of Assad’s different palaces in Damascus.

Assad’s brutal tenure ended when he fled to Moscow shortly earlier than Damascus fell on the weekend throughout a shock takeover of the nation by insurgent teams.

He fled to Moscow on account of his shut relationship with long-time ally President Putin.

Assad had a number of houses and lived an opulent life-style whereas his regime locked up, tortured and killed hundreds of its residents.

The fact of what occurred is now being uncovered to the world.

Relations have gathered at locations such because the infamous Sednaya jail and hospital morgues in hope of discovering the destiny of their family members.