A childhood letter written by Queen Elizabeth II has fetched £25,000 at auction today, dramatically surpassing the anticipated £4,000 estimate.
The single-page correspondence, featuring the young princess's sketches of dogs, horses and children, was addressed to the head housemaid at Royal Lodge in Windsor.
Charles Hanson of Hansons Auctioneers described the response to the sale in Penshurst, Kent, as "wild".
The letter dates from the period between 1936 and 1940, when the future monarch was aged between 10 and 12 and staying at Praa Sands in Cornwall.
Queen Elizabeth II's childhood letter sold for £20,000 over the estimate earlier today
|GETTY
In the letter, the young princess enquires whether "the birds are well, and the goldfish haven't died", revealing her early affection for animals that would become a lifelong passion.
She also mentions primroses she had gathered, requesting they be distributed among the Royal Lodge staff.
The correspondence was sent to Beatrice Stillman, who served as head housemaid at Royal Lodge.
It formed part of a collection of letters addressed to Ms Stillman, offering a rare glimpse into the informal communications between the royal household and its domestic staff during the late 1930s.
The archive of letters came to light in 2024 when William Westacott discovered them in a suitcase beneath his late mother Jean Dicker's bed.
Mr Westacott, who lives in Sevenoaks, said: "We knew the letters existed, but to read them in the flesh was a 'wow' moment."
The collection of letters feature drawings from the late Queen as a child
|HANSONS AUCTIONEERS
The family's royal connection began during the Second World War when Ms Stillman's brother-in-law John Dicker perished in an air raid in 1940.
Following his death, the Queen Mother extended an invitation to his widow, who was Ms Stillman's sister, along with her two young daughters Rene and Jean, to visit Royal Lodge and play with the princesses.
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Mr Westacott's aunt Rene retained fond memories of her encounters with the royal family, particularly recalling time spent in a large playhouse within the Royal Lodge gardens.
Mr Hanson described the letter as "something that the nation can rejoice at", adding: "In these difficult, testing times it makes us see a side of life that we can really enjoy."
Charlie Hanson described the sale as "wild"
|HANSONS AUCTIONEERS
Interest in the item extended far beyond British shores, with bidders engaging from New York and Hong Kong.
Justin Matthews, Hansons' regional director for Kent and Sussex, said the discovery had given him "goosebumps", adding: "I've been in the business a long time, but I've never come across anything like this."
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