Previously unseen letters from Diana, Princess of Wales, are set to be auctioned this weekend, offering a rare glimpse into her personal correspondence with
Violet Collinson, affectionately known to Diana as 'Collie.' Collinson was a housekeeper at the Park House estate in Sandringham, where Diana spent her childhood.
Sworders Auctioneers is handling the sale of these letters and cards. The auction house's director remarked, “She was a constant in Diana’s life, someone she could relate to and perhaps even escape from the world she was in. There was huge affection – she adored her.”
Collinson worked for the Spencer family throughout the births of all the Spencer children and stayed with Diana until her parents' divorce in 1967. After the divorce, she continued working for Diana’s mother, Frances. Collinson passed away in 2013 at the age of 89.
Among the items up for auction is a wedding invitation for the July 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, estimated to fetch between £200-£300.
Christmas cards featuring family portraits of the Wales family through the years are also included, each expected to fetch between £200-£300. The earliest Christmas card dates back to 1981, featuring a wedding portrait on the cover, while the latest, from 1994, shows a portrait of Diana with her sons.
The auction also features personal letters from Diana to Collinson. One letter from 1986 expresses Diana’s gratitude for the coloring books and pencils gifted to Prince William and Prince Harry.
A letter from late September 1984, shortly after Harry’s birth, reveals Diana’s joy: “William adores his little brother and spends the entire time pouring an endless supply of hugs and kisses over Harry.”
In a letter dated Boxing Day 1982, Diana describes William's first Christmas: “William was totally bemused by the event of Christmas, but couldn’t take his eyes off the lights!”
Another letter, sent a few weeks before her 1981 wedding, thanks Collinson for a picture frame given as a birthday gift. Diana writes, “everyone frantically busy here doing last minute decorations. The bride to be has remained quite calm!”
All the letters are estimated to fetch between £800-£1,200 each.
Macdonald of Sworders Auctioneers commented, “The fact that she wanted to say a special thank you – for albeit small presents – really shows how kind, generous, and caring Diana was.”
Diana’s letters and cards will be auctioned as part of the Out of the Ordinary lot, scheduled for sale on 30 July. Photo by John MacIntyre, Wikimedia commons.