A collection of 39 letters and Christmas cards from Princess Diana to a close family friend is going under the hammer in Cornwall.
The collection, which dates from 1990 to a few months before the Princess of Wales’ tragic death in 1997, is being sold by David Lay Auctioneers. The consignment follows their sale of a single letter from the late Princess from another private collection, which achieved £1,750 ($2,375) after fierce bidding in August of this year.
Mimi Lay, David Lay’s wife, said, “This is one of the most extraordinary sales we have ever done. No-one in the world has handled a collection of letters from Diana quite like this. Diana remains one of the most photographed and most famous people in the world even today, 20 or so years after her death.”
These letters are beautifully written and show Diana’s real character as witty, warm and generous rather than how she was portrayed in the media.
The collection would appeal to any royal or Diana fan or enthusiast. When the sale takes place next year, planned for March 18, the auction house expects interest from all over the world. Restaurant and café owners of Mayfair may also be interested, as Diana mentions the names of places where she regularly dined in the area, as well as the people that she met.
The collection was given to the Cornwall auction house to sell by one of Diana’s long time family friends. The majority of the letters are from Lady Diana herself, with one from her mother and one from Robert Fellowes, the Queen’s private secretary at the time.
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“These letters come from an elderly gentleman who was a very dear friend of Diana and her mother,” said Mimi. “She was really fond of him. He was impressed with our sale of the other Diana letter in the summer and asked his younger relations to dispose of them as they see fit. They have decided to sell them through us which is very exciting. We’re thrilled.”
The letters and Christmas card have an auction estimate of £20,000-30,000 ($27,000-40,000) but will not be sold as one lot, so as to not out-price any individual who wishes to purchase a single letter or card and may not otherwise be able to afford a whole suite of Diana memorabilia.
