Letter written by young Queen Elizabeth II sells for $33,000

By Nathan Pynn

A previously unseen letter decorated with adorable doodles of animals written by a young Queen Elizabeth II has sold for $33,444.

The late monarch wrote the one-page note to the head housemaid at Royal Lodge in Windsor when she was around 10 years old.

Written while on holiday in Praa Sands in Cornwall, the young princess checks if “the birds are well, and the gold-fish haven’t died.”

The unseen letter came to light two years ago after it was kept in a suitcase under a bed for decades.

The letter was expected to sell for between $2,675 and $5,350 when it went under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers on Friday, Feb. 27.

The auction sparked a bidding war between collectors in the UK and the US.

An anonymous bidder, from Southend, Essex, finally snapped up the letter for a whopping $25,000 in a “moment of madness.”

The buyer said he wasn’t a monarchist but bought the letter to inspire his young daughter.

He said: “If I can encourage my daughter to be as respectful to everyone around her as the girl who wrote that letter, then it’s $33,444 well spent.

“In fact, it would be the best investment in her education I could make.”

He said he had been touched by the letter’s contents, having seen it on a news website and paid for it using money earmarked for a new kitchen - admitting he might now be “cooking on a Bunsen burner”.

He called the purchase “a moment of madness,” which he didn’t regret and now plans to frame the letter and hang it in his daughter’s room.

The one-page note, including well-drawn doodles of dogs, horses, children and highwaymen, was addressed to Beatrice Stillman who in 1936 became the head housemaid at Royal Lodge in Windsor.

It was discovered in a suitcase two years ago by her great-nephew William Westacott a farmer from Sevenoaks, in Kent.

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Westacott, who attended the auction with his wife and daughter, said: “I am stunned and overjoyed by the result, and delighted to see how much excitement the letter evoked from so many people all over the world.”

The letter, addressed to Beatrice Stillman (1901-1991), the head housemaid at Royal Lodge, reads: “Sea Side, Sea Mead, Praa Sands

“Dear Beatrice,

“I am sending you some primroses we picked, wild. There are some pale pink ones as well as the yellow.

“It is very lovely here. We can go down onto the beach from the garden.

“I hope the birds are well, and the gold-fish haven't died. Will you please give Cootie (Miss Coote I mean) and Mrs. Wade some of the primroses to share.

"Jock is very well and happy here. Nanny and Joanna send their love to you.

“Love from Elizabeth.”

The doodles include a pair of horses and highwaymen, a seated girl named Mary, a dog called Jim, a boy named John, as well as a boy and pony jumping a five-bar gate, alongside a man patting a horse.

The letter was part of a larger archive of royal memorabilia, including Christmas cards owned by Beatrice.

One lot of ration books and signed photographs raced past its guide price of between £50 and $80 to sell for $3,600.

Auctioneer Charles Hanson said: “A great result for King and country!

“This is one of the most remarkable letters written by this country’s longest serving monarch and it was a privilege to sell it.

“Bidding was intense, and I commend the buyer for keeping the letter in this country. A truly great sale.”