Princess of Wales’s Letters to Family Housekeeper to Auction

More than a dozen letters and cards from Diana Princess of Wales to her family’s former housekeeper come to auction in Essex, England, this summer. Sworders’ Out of the Ordinary sale in Stansted Mountfitchet on July 30 includes a trove of correspondence between the princess and the lady she knew simply as Collie. 

Violet Collison had been the head housekeeper to John Spencer, Viscount Althorp and his wife Frances Ruth Roche at Park House on the Sandringham Estate. While in service she welcomed the births of four Spencer children - Sarah, Jane, Diana (later Diana Princess of Wales) and Charles - and later, after the Spencer’s marriage broke down, followed Frances to London in 1967. Working for Frances and Peter Shand Kydd until retirement in 1973. Collie remained close to Frances and the Spencer children until she died in 2013, aged 89.


As can be seen from the variety and nature of this collection of cards and letters, Collie remained in Diana’s thoughts throughout her life, before and during her marriage to Charles Prince of Wales, the birth of their two children Princes William and Harry, and beyond. Invited to the Royal Wedding on 29th July 1981, she also received a ticket for the Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales on September 6, 1997.

Most of the letters to Collie’ are thank you notes for Christmas and birthday presents given to Diana and Prince Harry and Prince William as children, each offing a line or two regarding he life at the time.

A double-sided letter, written on Buckingham Palace notepaper to Collie thanking her for a birthday present is dated July 8, 1981, only three weeks before the Royal Wedding. The then Lady Diana Spencer observes "everyone frantically busy here doing last minute decorations ... the bride to be has remained quite calm!". In its original envelope addressed in Diana’s hand, it is expected to bring £800-1,200.

Writing as the Princess of Wales on Kensington Palace on September 25, 1984, Diana thanks her former housekeeper for a gift to Prince Harry. She notes that "William adores his little brother & spends the entire time pouring an endless supply of hugs & kisses over Harry". Offered together with a Christmas card from the same year, it also has a guide of £800-1,200.

Violet Collison’s personal invitations to the Royal Wedding (including a copy of the order of service) will be offered together with ticket no.109 for the Funeral of Diana plus other correspondence related to the Memorial Service of Diana, Princess of Wales on August 31, 2007. It has an estimate of £200-300.