Princess Diana’s intimate handwritten letters and cards to her family’s former housekeeper, Violet Collison, are set to be auctioned off, offering a rare glimpse into the late princess’s personal life.
Collison, affectionately known as “Collie,” worked as the housekeeper at Park House on the Sandringham Estate, where Diana spent her childhood. The two remained close over the years, with Collison sending gifts to Diana and her sons, William and Harry, and receiving thank-you notes and Christmas cards in return.
These letters, expected to fetch thousands of pounds at the auction, showcase the warm relationship between Diana and Collison. One notable letter, written on Buckingham Palace stationery just three weeks before Diana’s wedding to Prince Charles, reflects her calm demeanor amidst the frantic preparations. “The bride-to-be has remained quite calm!” she wrote.
Another letter from September 1984 reveals Diana’s joy over Prince Harry’s birth, as she thanked Collison for a gift. “William adores his little brother and spends the entire time pouring an endless supply of hugs and kisses over Harry,” she wrote.
Intimate Glimpses into Diana’s Life
Luke Macdonald, director at Sworders auctioneers, emphasized the intimate nature of the letters and the rare glimpses they provide into Diana’s life. “They’re things that otherwise we probably would not be aware of outside the small circles of the Royal family,” he said. “The fact that she was wanting to say a special thank you – for albeit small presents – really says how kind and generous and caring Diana was.”
Collison, who witnessed the births of Diana and her three siblings at Park House, remained close to the Spencer family even after Frances Shand Kydd’s marriage to Earl Spencer broke down. She followed Frances to London in 1967 before returning to Norfolk to retire. “The lovely environment of Norfolk obviously held a very special place in her heart,” Mr. Macdonald noted, adding that Diana would secretly visit Collison for tea without her security detail.
Collison maintained her close relationship with Frances and the Spencer children until her death at age 89 in 2013. “She was a constant in Diana’s life, somebody she could relate to and perhaps even escape from the world she was in,” Mr. Macdonald said. “There was huge affection – she adored her.”
The auction house has noted significant global interest in the Diana lots, particularly from the United States. In addition to the letters, the auction includes framed photographs, Christmas cards, and Ms. Collison’s invitations to Princess Diana’s wedding and funeral. While individual letters have estimates ranging from £800 to £1,200, they are expected to sell for higher prices at the auction, which will take place at Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers on Tuesday, 30 July.
