A collection of handwritten correspondence by the late Princess Diana is expected to fetch upwards of £20,000 at auction on Friday. The 23 cards and notes, written to housekeeper Maud Pendrey, who worked for Diana’s family at Althorp, begin after the Princess’ 1981 marriage to the Prince of Wales, with the last dated in 1995, just two years before her death in a high-speed car crash.
Described by auctioneers as “special and unique”, the letters, which go under the hammer at GA Keys salerooms in Aylsham, Norfolk, are all signed personally by the Princess and written in her own hand.
In a thankyou note for a wedding gift, Diana writes that she and Charles were “touched and delighted”, adding, “The honeymoon was a tremendous success, and we had a glorious time.”
“You can really see her humanity from the letters,” said Keys auction house head of collectibles, Andrew Bullock. “Imagine the thousands of letters she had to write to thank people for presents after her wedding and she still shows she can think of the Pendreys.”
Another note, received by Mrs Pendrey in 1982, arrived along with a framed picture of the Princess and baby William. In the touching letter, Diana writes that the new addition to the family “has brought us such happiness and contentment… consequently I cannot wait for masses more.”
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
