Several letters and holiday postcards written by Princess Diana to her former housekeeper, Maud Pendrey, are set to be auctioned on June 27. This collection includes personal correspondence exchanged between the Princess of Wales and Pendrey following Diana’s marriage to Prince Charles in 1981.
The auction, hosted by Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills, will feature 14 Christmas and New Year cards exchanged from 1981 to 1985, alongside other notes and letters.
The collection is expected to fetch six figures due to its historical significance and the personal insights it offers into Princess Diana’s life. Among the items is a handwritten note dated September 8, 1982, on royal letterhead, where Diana reflects on the “tremendous success” of her honeymoon with Prince Charles.
In another letter written shortly after the birth of her first son, William, Diana describes herself as an “extremely proud and lucky mother,” expressing her joy and anticipation for the future. She writes, “William has brought us such happiness and contentment, and consequently, I cannot wait for masses more.”
A note from September 1982 on Balmoral Castle letterhead shows Diana’s gratitude towards her staff, thanking them for their gift to Prince William. She writes, “We are so thrilled & delighted with your wonderful cardigans — thank you very much for spoiling William, he doesn’t deserve it.” The letter is affectionately signed, “Take great care & much love from us all, Diana.”
Another playful letter dated July 13, 1983, reveals Diana’s quirky side as she humorously describes a helicopter taking off from Althorp and wonders if it could see her waving from the top.
Princess Diana, renowned for her charity work and captivating public presence, was one of the most famous women in the world. She married Prince Charles in 1981 and had two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. Diana and Charles divorced in 1996, and tragically, she died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 at the age of 36. The auction of her personal letters and postcards offers a rare glimpse into her private life and the milestones she cherished.
