A postcard sent from the Royal Family's Norfolk home that has been discovered after 40 years will be going up for auction next month.
The postcard sent in 1983 from Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother was sent from the Sandringham estate to the wife of Ronald Stockdale, one of her servants, offering her condolences following his death.
Mr Stockdale, a farm worker from Carlisle, moved to London and got a job with the Metropolitan Police, eventually going on to work for the Queen’s personal protection force during the 1950s.
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It is believed he worked under several royals during his career. He died in his 70s in 1983.
A folder of royal memorabilia and letters was inherited by his son, who gave it to his wife over 10 years ago.
As well as the postcard from the Queen Mother it also included a letter from King Charles III to his grandmother.
The letter sent on March 15, 1955 reads: "Dear Granny, I am sorry that you are ill. I hope you will be better soon. Lots of love from Charles.”
Mr Stockdale's grandson said: “We finally had the time to look through a big box file that my mother had given to us.
“It originally belonged to my late grandad, Roland Stockdale.
“It contained lots of royal memorabilia, including a letter from Prince Charles to his grandmother. My wife said ‘wow, look at that’.
“We were pretty gobsmacked but we weren’t sure whether anyone would be interested in it.”
There is also a booklet entitled The Words Of Her Majesty The Queen, Christmas Day 1956, which is a copy of the Queen’s broadcast which she delivered from her Sandringham study.
The items will be sold by Derbyshire-based Hansons Auctioneers on March 7 and combined are expected to make around £4,000.
Charles Hanson, the owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said the finds were “remarkable” and that the childhood letter from King Charles was “heartwarming”.
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