A collection of intimate missives written by members of the Royal family, including the late Princess Diana, is to go on sale by auction probably in New York later in the year.
The correspondence, which comprises 112 letters, plus a gift tag from the Queen to her husband, is being sold by American businesswomen Alicia Carroll. Alicia is the owner of a large body of royal memorabilia, which even includes slices of Charles and Diana’s wedding cake.
One letter, written three months into the late Princess’ first pregnancy, gives an insight into the mother-to-be’s state of mind at the time. “I don’t like complaining, but it’s not that great at the moment, probably because there’s so much going my way at the moment,” she wrote. “Hubby is on a cloud saying how marvellous he is and clever. I spend a lot of time reminding him that I’m the one carrying it. But it doesn’t make any difference.”
In an earlier letter written by her husband to a friend to during a 1981 trip to New Zealand just before his nuptials, Charles also revealed that life as a royal is not always a rosy one. “If one more NZ child asks me what it’s like to be prince I shall go demented,” he penned. “Will you visit me when they strap me in a white apron and deposit me in some institution?”
Also included in the items offered for sale is a gift tag addressed to Philip with “fondest love from Lilibet”, a reference to the British monarch’s pet name among members of the royal family.
According to Alicia, other letters of an even more personal nature – including some written by Diana when her marriage to Charles was in difficulty – will not be included in the auction. “”People write things in the heat of the moment that they don’t mean,” she said. “I’d never do anything to embarrass the royals.”
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
