Several letters and holiday postcards written by Princess Diana to her former housekeeper, Maud Pendrey, are set to be auctioned on June 27.
According to the New York Post, the collection includes correspondence between the Princess of Wales and Pendrey following Diana’s marriage to Prince Charles in 1981. This auction, hosted by Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills, also features 14 Christmas and New Year cards exchanged between 1981 and 1985. The items are expected to fetch six-figure sums.
The collection offers a glimpse into Diana’s personal life, capturing significant milestones and personal sentiments. One handwritten note, dated September 8, 1982, on a royal letterhead, mentions the “tremendous success” of her honeymoon with Prince Charles. In another letter from the same month, shortly after the birth of her first son, William, Diana described herself as an “extremely proud and lucky mother,” expressing her joy and anticipation for the future.
A letter from Balmoral Castle, also dated September 1982, thanked employees for their gift to Prince William. Diana wrote, “We are so thrilled & delighted with your wonderful cardigans — thank you very much for spoiling William, he doesn’t deserve it,” signing off with, “Take great care & much love from us all, Diana.”
A playful letter dated July 13, 1983, showcased Diana’s quirky side. She described a helicopter taking off from Althorp and wondered whether they could see her waving from the top.
Princess Diana was one of the most famous women globally, renowned for her charity work and her tumultuous private life. Mother to Prince William and Prince Harry, she divorced Prince Charles in 1996. Tragically, Diana died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 at the age of 36.
The upcoming auction offers a rare opportunity for collectors and admirers to own a piece of history, encapsulating the warmth and humanity of the “People’s Princess.”
