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Lot #14. Princess Diana | 1981 Signed Holiday Card
13007 S. Western Avenue, Gardena, California 90249
Phone 310-836-1818 | Fax 310-742-0155
June 17, 2025
A signed letter from Diana, Princess of Wales, to Mark Simpson, a footman at Buckingham Palace, is dated July 31, 1981, and written on stationery with a raised royal cypher.
The letter reads, "Dear Mark,/ I just wanted to thank you for all your kindness + patience you've showed towards/ me since I moved in/ to B.P./ My stay was made so much/ easier by your company as/ it was so terribly lonely + we had/ so many laughs for that I/ can't thank you enough./ Do hope you were able to/ enjoy Wednesday + that you/ liked my dress?/ I'm off to Britainia tomorrow,/ what with all those men/ around. I will have to keep/ a watchful eye on Evelyn!/ The bad news is that I/ haven't eaten any cereal- sob./ How am I going to cope without my bowls of cereal....[smiley face]/ A large thank you for being/ you- much love. Diana."
The letter comes with an envelope addressed to Mark Simpson with a postmark stamp from Buckingham Palace, August 1, 1981. There is a "D" at the bottom left-hand corner for Diana.
Mark Simpson was present during Diana's wedding and was photographed on the 1902 State Landau used by the Prince and Princess of Wales after their wedding.
Dimensions: Letter Measures 7.5 x 9.25 inches
Category: Ephemera, Princess Diana
Provenance: From a private collection.
A 1981 signed holiday card from King Charles III (then Prince Charles) and Princess Diana to the President and Members of F.C. and C.P.O.'s Mess of H.M.S. Ariande with Prince Charles and Princess Diana's 1981 wedding photo, photographed by Lord Snowden.
The card's exterior, stamped in gold leaf (gold tone foil), features coronets with the Prince of Wales' three plume Coat of Arms and Princess Diana's Coat of Arms. On the interior left-hand side, handwritten and typed text reads, "The President and Members of the F.C. and C.P.O.'s Mess of H.M.S. Ariande, With all Good Wishes, for Christmas, and the New Year, from Charles and Diana." Opposite the seasonal greetings and signature is a wedding photograph of Prince Charles in his Royal Navy commander's dress uniform and Princess Diana in her Emanuels' silk taffeta wedding gown, and Spencer family tiara, photographed by Lord Snowden.
The card is mounted in a glass frame.
The card, when originally sold in 2015, had tape residue on the exterior.
Dimensions: Card: 10.5 x 7.25 (card measured open) Frame: 13 x 10.25 inches
Category: Ephemera, Princess Diana
Provenance: Lot #100, Nate D. Sanders, June 25, 2015.
A signed leather from Diana, Princess of Wales, to designer Jacqueline Mills dated January 17, 1985. The letter is written on Charles and Diana's personalized stationery from Kensington Palace, featuring a royal crest with their initials. The letter comes with an addressed and stamped envelope mailed from Kensington Palace to the designer.
The letter reads: "Dear Jacqueline,/ Thank you/ so much for bringing my dress along with the sketches/ If I may please, could/ I hang onto them for the moment and maybe telephone you when we return from Norfolk to London at the end of this month? The check is on the way! I just wanted you to know that I'd see the drawings and needless to say that i have my eyes on one of them!! Many thanks for taking all that trouble! Diana."
The letter's correspondence reveals Diana's involvement in the design process and her approach to curating her wardrobe for specific events and occasions.
Category: Princess Diana, Fashion
Provenance: Partial Lot # 79 "Entertainment & Memorabilia Premier Live Auction" Ewbank's, August 29, 2024.
A handwritten letter to Mrs. Pendrey from Princess Diana on Kensington Palace letterhead dated December 24, 1986. The letter is written in black ink on stationery bearing the raised Kensington Palace crest at the center top and references the death of Mr. Pendrey and Diana, offering her condolences to Mrs. Pendrey for her loss. The letter is signed "This comes with all my thoughts & prayers and love from, Diana" on the verso.
Initially offered for auction in March 2002 by Maud Pendrey, a former housekeeper at the Spencer family home at Althorp in Northamptonshire.
Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 inches
Category: Princess Diana, Fashion
Provenance: Partial Lot #1200 "Book Sale; Sale of Books of Local Interest; Travel, Natural History; Children's; Ephemera, etc.," Keys: Fine Art Auctioneers And Estate Agents, Auctions at Aylsham Salerooms, March 22, 2002
A three-page handwritten letter (two pages in total), handwritten by Princess Diana of Wales on Charles and Diana Kensington Palace stationery to beautician and close friend, Janet Filderman.
The letter reads: "July 1st, 1988 - Dearest Janet, I am thrilled to bits with my letter opener - where on earth did you find it, I do think that you're very clever! I was enormously touched as I always am by your never ending kindness, by the trouble you graciously took in finding such a marvelous present for this newly appointed 27 year old! You did look very glamorous at Aida, especially with all you hair up & I do hope that you really enjoyed the evening - bless you, Janet, for our most wonderful pen letter opener I have ever seen and believe it or not I opened your parcel on the actual day which I know will surprise you - !! All my love, Janet, & endless special [illegible] from, Diana."
Dimensions: Each, 4.75 x 7.5 inches
Category: Ephemera, Princess Diana
