Nearly a century after her birth, Queen Elizabeth II continues to stir emotions. A handwritten letter penned by the future monarch when she was only about ten years old, accompanied by several drawings, will be auctioned on February 27 at Penshurst, Kent. The document is estimated to fetch between £2,000 and £4,000, or up to approximately €4,500.
The letter, written between 1936 and 1940, was addressed to Beatrice Stillman, head housekeeper at the Royal Lodge in Windsor. It is written in neat cursive handwriting, without any erasures or spelling mistakes, and signed simply "Love from Elizabeth." The young princess gives news of her holiday in Cornwall, at Praa Sands, mentioning the beach accessible from the garden and expressing concern for the birds and goldfish left behind at Windsor.
Childhood drawings at the heart of discovery
The letter is also adorned with detailed drawings depicting children, a dog named Jim, and several horses—a passion that would mark the queen's entire life. These illustrations, considered remarkably accurate for a child of that age, are one of the most striking features of the document.
This treasure had lain dormant for decades in a blue leather trunk bearing the Harrod's logo, discovered beneath the bed of the mother of William Westacott, Beatrice Stillman's great-nephew. Inside were also other royal correspondence, including a note signed by the Queen Mother formalizing the hiring of the governess and a memo attributed to Princess Margaret.
For the managers of Hansons Auctioneers, this discovery offers a rare glimpse into the childhood of Elizabeth II. Through these simple and thoughtful lines, the portrait of an observant and caring child is already emerging, traits that would leave a lasting mark on the reign of the woman who would become one of the most iconic sovereigns of the 20th century.
