Princess Diana Private Correspondence and Rare Photographs to Auction
Items from the Diana, Princess of Wales auction
A collection of personal material relating to Diana, Princess of Wales including a handwritten letter from her sent during the period of her and King Charles III’s honeymoon at Balmoral in 1981 comes to the Fine Art & Interiors sale at Gorringe’s on July 7, six days after what would have been her 65th birthday.
The honeymoon letter, dated September 27, 1981, and addressed to “Dear Katherine”, runs to three pages on embossed Royal notepaper bearing the Royal crest in red at the head of each sheet. It was sent by registered post, indicating that Diana took deliberate care in ensuring its safe delivery. The original envelope survives, bearing two Perth postmarks dated 29 SEP 81 and the Royal cypher (EIIR) stamp.
Also going under the hammer are four colour photographs from Diana’s school days at West Heath Girls’ School in Kent. One is a group photograph of pupils including Diana relaxing outside in the sun against the school building. The other three comprise one taken with the school sports field in background in which the subject’s appearance is consistent with known photographs of Diana at this age, and two of Diana in her dormitory. The photographs are everyday snapshots that have been rarely seen.
Other lots include a handwritten birthday card and an order of service from the intimate thanksgiving service held at St Martin-in-the-Fields church in London in November 1997 after her death. The whole collection has an estimate of £4,000-£6,000.
The unique collection originates from Katherine Hanbury, a childhood friend of Diana who attended West Heath Girls’ School with her between 1973 and 1977.
“This intimate archive offers a rare glimpse of Diana, Princess of Wales, before duty and fame had the final say," said Albert Radford, Books & Manuscripts Specialist at Gorringe’s. "Through our client's recollections from West Heath Girls’ School, Diana comes across as deeply unassuming and domestically minded, someone whose real ambition was simply to have a family and take pride in ordinary things."
