Police in Britain identified the remains found near a royal estate as those of a 17-year-old girl who went missing in August, the Telegraph reported.

Alisa Dmitrijeva had left her family home at the end of August, the newspaper reported. Her body was found roughly one mile from the main gate of Sandringham, an estate belonging to the family of Queen Elizabeth II. Dmitrijeva's family had been searching frantically for her, including in Facebook advertisements and with a reward offered in December, the BBC reported.

Forensics experts had struggled to identify the remains, discovered by a person walking a dog on New Year's Day, as the Queen and her family gathered at the nearby residence. The BBC reported that Dmitrijeva was only identified by comparing detail from her palm, and from the femur found with the other remains.

There was no initial evidence of a cause of death, but police suspect foul play.

Police said it was "highly unlikely" Miss Dmitrijeva had died through natural causes.

There was no evidence of accidental injury, damage due to firearms or a bladed weapon, they said.

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Ted Mann