Letters from Princess Diana to her former family housekeeper are going up for sale, offering a "look" into her private life, including preparations for her wedding to the then Prince Charles, and details of Prince Harry and Prince William's childhood relationship.
Violet Collison, nicknamed "Collie," was the head housekeeper at Park House at the royal estate's Sandringham estate in Norfolk, where Diana was born and raised.
Collison witnessed the births of Diana and her siblings Sarah, Jane and Charles, according to auction house Surders, which is selling the letters on July 30.
Princess's relationship with housekeeper
"Collison was a constant in Diana's life, and she remained so throughout her life," Luke MacDonald, head of art and estates at Surders, told CNN. "For Diana, she was always there."
Even after Collison retired in 1973, Diana visited her regularly, according to MacDonald, who added that Diana would "sneak" for a cup of tea at Collison's Norfolk home when she was at Sandringham.
"They were very close," MacDonald said, adding that the two would exchange letters on holidays and special occasions, and even before Diana's wedding to then-Prince Charles.
Princess Diana's Letters
In one letter dated July 8, 1981, three weeks before the royal wedding, Diana wrote in her own handwriting on Buckingham Palace letterhead, telling Collison about the pre-wedding preparations.
Diana wrote: "Everyone is busy here with last minute preparations... The bride-to-be has remained largely quiet."
In another letter, written ten days after Prince Harry's birth in 1984, Diana thanked Collison for the gift she had sent to the newborn.
Diana wrote: "It was so kind of you to give Harry a beautiful gift - we are very touched."
In the same letter, Diana told Collison of Prince William's love for his little brother. "William adores his little brother and spends all his time cuddling and kissing Harry," she wrote.
She added: "It is a wonderful thing to watch, if we are allowed to get close."
"The letters provide a glimpse into Diana's life away from the limelight, away from royal protocol," MacDonald said, adding that he believed they "only underline how kind, loving and good she was."
That same year, Diana sent Collison another letter thanking him for sending the boys Christmas presents.
“It was so lovely to have you give our little ones such wonderful Christmas presents,” Diana wrote on Kensington Palace letterhead, adding that “William found the packages and started opening the papers before I could stop him.”
Christmas cards up for sale
Also up for auction are signed Christmas cards and memorabilia from Diana’s life, including a personal invitation to the royal wedding, a ticket to Diana’s funeral and correspondence from her memorial service.
While some of the letters have been estimated to fetch between £800 and £1,200 ($1,030 to $1,545), MacDonald expects the interest in them could see them sell for more.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if one or two of these letters doubled in price or more,” he said.
“They tell the story of one person from beginning to end, in one set of letters and Christmas cards… It’s really a chapter from Diana’s childhood to the end of her life.”
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