Princess Diana’s letters to their family’s former housekeeper are to be sold, providing “insight” into her private life, including preparations for her marriage to then-Prince Charles, as well as details of Prince Harry and Prince William’s childhood relationship.
Violet Collison, nicknamed Collie, was the head housekeeper at Park House on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where Diana was born and raised. Collison witnessed the birth of Diana and her siblings, Sarah, Jane and Charles, according to Sworders, the auction house handling the July 30 sale.
“[Collison] “He was a constant figure in Diana’s life, and remained so throughout her life,” Luke Macdonald, head of art and props at Sworders, told CNN on Thursday. “For Diana, he was always there.”
Even after Collison retired in 1973, Diana still visited her former maid, according to Macdonald, who added that Diana would “sneak in” for a cup of tea at Collison’s Norfolk home when she was at Sandringham.
“They were very close,” Macdonald said, adding the two wrote to each other for birthdays, Christmas and even before Diana’s marriage to then-Prince Charles.
One letter, dated July 8, 1981, written in Diana’s hand on Buckingham Palace letterhead, informs Collison of preparations for the wedding.
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“Everyone is very busy here doing the final decorations… the bride is remaining quite quiet,” wrote Diana.
Another letter, written 10 days after Prince Harry’s birth in 1984, thanked Collison for gifts sent to the newborn.
“It was so kind of you to give Harry such a lovely gift – we were so touched,” Diana wrote.
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In the same letter, Diana told Collison of Prince William’s admiration for his little brother. “William was very fond of his little brother and spent all his time showering Harry with endless hugs and kisses,” she wrote. “Which was a joy to watch, if we were allowed to be near.”
“These letters provide an insight into Diana’s life behind the radar, sort of outside royal protocol,” says Macdonald, who thinks “they just really confirm what a gentle, loving, kind and fun person she was.”
That same year, Diana sent another thank you note to Collison for Christmas presents sent to her children.
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“How kind of you to give our little boy such a wonderful Christmas present,” Diana wrote on a personalized Kensington Palace letterhead, adding that “William found the packages and dove straight into the papers before I could stop him.”
Among the items up for auction are also signed family Christmas cards and memorabilia from events related to Diana’s life, such as personal invitations to the royal wedding, Diana’s funeral tickets and correspondence for her memorial service.
While some of the letters are listed with an estimated sale price of £800 to £1,200 ($1,030 to $1,545), Macdonald imagines the interest they generate means they could sell for much more. “I wouldn’t be surprised if one or two of them might sell for double that or more,” he said.
“They are one person’s story from beginning to end, all in one group of letters and Christmas cards… They are really chapters from Diana’s childhood through her life.” (CNN/Z-3)
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