Childhood Letter From Queen Elizabeth II to Auction, Expected to Fetch Up to £4,000

A handwritten letter penned by Queen Elizabeth II as a child is set to go up for auction on February 27th, with bids expected to reach up to £4,000. The one-page note, addressed to the head housemaid at Royal Lodge in Windsor, features drawings of dogs, horses and children, and includes a charming inquiry about the well-being of her pets.

A Glimpse into the Young Princess’s Life

The letter was written although the then-Princess Elizabeth was staying in Praa Sands, Cornwall, sometime between 1936 and 1940, when she was between 10 and 12 years old . It asks if “the birds are well, and the goldfish haven’t died,” offering a tender glimpse into the young princess’s concerns.

Details of the Auction and Letter’s Discovery

Justin Matthews, from Hansons Auctioneers, described the letter as “beautiful” in his 27 years in the international auction world . The letter also references primroses that the young queen had picked and requested be shared with the staff at Royal Lodge.

The letter was discovered as part of an archive of correspondence addressed to Beatrice Stillman, the former head housemaid at Royal Lodge. Another letter within the archive, penned by Princess Margaret, simply requested that Stillman “gaze after my bathing suit” .

A Family Connection and Historical Context

The letters came to light when William Westacott discovered a suitcase containing them under his mother’s bed in 2024, following her death. The suitcase belonged to his great aunt, Jean Dicker, whose family had a special connection to the royal family. After her brother-in-law, John Dicker, was killed in an air raid in 1940, the Queen Mother invited his widow and their two young daughters, Rene and Jean, to play with the princesses at Royal Lodge . Westacott’s aunt, Rene, fondly remembered meeting the royal family and playing in the Royal Lodge garden .

Auction Details

The auction will be held by Hansons Auctioneers in Penshurst on February 27th .