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| Childhood note from King Charles found in Warwickshire loft | Childhood note from King Charles found in Warwickshire loft |
| (2 months later) | |
| The note, written on Buckingham Palace-headed paper, is dated 15 March 1955 | The note, written on Buckingham Palace-headed paper, is dated 15 March 1955 |
| The note, written on Buckingham Palace-headed paper, is dated 15 March 1955 | The note, written on Buckingham Palace-headed paper, is dated 15 March 1955 |
| A letter written by King Charles to his poorly "Granny" when he was six years old has been discovered in a loft in Warwickshire. | A letter written by King Charles to his poorly "Granny" when he was six years old has been discovered in a loft in Warwickshire. |
| The extraordinary find was made by a couple having a clear-out at their home near Stratford-upon-Avon. | The extraordinary find was made by a couple having a clear-out at their home near Stratford-upon-Avon. |
| It was in a box of royal memorabilia collected by a relative who worked in the Queen's personal protection force during the 1950s. | It was in a box of royal memorabilia collected by a relative who worked in the Queen's personal protection force during the 1950s. |
| The note, written on Buckingham Palace-headed paper, is dated 15 March 1955. | The note, written on Buckingham Palace-headed paper, is dated 15 March 1955. |
| On one side, the then-Prince Charles wrote: 'Dear Granny, I am sorry that you are ill. I hope you will be better soon', and on the other, 'Lots of love from Charles', with colourful doodles and kisses. | On one side, the then-Prince Charles wrote: 'Dear Granny, I am sorry that you are ill. I hope you will be better soon', and on the other, 'Lots of love from Charles', with colourful doodles and kisses. |
| The letter is just one of many items in a vast collection which will be up for auction at Hansons Auctioneers on 7 March. | The letter is just one of many items in a vast collection which will be up for auction at Hansons Auctioneers on 7 March. |
| The seller said they were "gobsmacked" to find the note handwritten by the future King | The seller said they were "gobsmacked" to find the note handwritten by the future King |
| The seller said they were "gobsmacked" to find the note handwritten by the future King | The seller said they were "gobsmacked" to find the note handwritten by the future King |
| The seller said it was tucked into a box file of memorabilia collected by his grandfather Roland Stockdale, who died in the 1980s. | The seller said it was tucked into a box file of memorabilia collected by his grandfather Roland Stockdale, who died in the 1980s. |
| His grandson said it had been "gathering dust" in various lofts ever since and they finally looked through it at Christmas. | His grandson said it had been "gathering dust" in various lofts ever since and they finally looked through it at Christmas. |
| "I have absolutely no idea how he came to have the letter written by King Charles when he was a boy. It's one of many things he kept," he said. | "I have absolutely no idea how he came to have the letter written by King Charles when he was a boy. It's one of many things he kept," he said. |
| "My wife said 'wow, look at that!' We were pretty gobsmacked." | "My wife said 'wow, look at that!' We were pretty gobsmacked." |
| 'Remarkable finds' | 'Remarkable finds' |
| The seller said Mr Stockdale worked with the Metropolitan Police before moving to the protection force, where he is believed to have helped protect the Queen Mother. | The seller said Mr Stockdale worked with the Metropolitan Police before moving to the protection force, where he is believed to have helped protect the Queen Mother. |
| "My grandad was a man of few words and never really spoke about his time working with the royal family but he was clearly well thought of," his grandson added. | "My grandad was a man of few words and never really spoke about his time working with the royal family but he was clearly well thought of," his grandson added. |
| The items were collected by Roland Stockdale, pictured, who was in the royal protection force | The items were collected by Roland Stockdale, pictured, who was in the royal protection force |
| The items were collected by Roland Stockdale, pictured, who was in the royal protection force | The items were collected by Roland Stockdale, pictured, who was in the royal protection force |
| William Tallon wrote to Mr Stockdale from Sandringham in 1983 | William Tallon wrote to Mr Stockdale from Sandringham in 1983 |
| William Tallon wrote to Mr Stockdale from Sandringham in 1983 | William Tallon wrote to Mr Stockdale from Sandringham in 1983 |
| The file also includes correspondence from the Queen Mother's servant William Tallon to Mr Stockdale and later his widow, describing him as "the best and kindest Sgt we ever had". | The file also includes correspondence from the Queen Mother's servant William Tallon to Mr Stockdale and later his widow, describing him as "the best and kindest Sgt we ever had". |
| It also contains royal menus, an invitation to the Stockdales to a dance at Balmoral Castle, a note signed by the Queen Mother, a George VI Memorial Westminster booklet from 1955 and a written copy of the Queen's 1956 Christmas Day speech. | It also contains royal menus, an invitation to the Stockdales to a dance at Balmoral Castle, a note signed by the Queen Mother, a George VI Memorial Westminster booklet from 1955 and a written copy of the Queen's 1956 Christmas Day speech. |
| Charles Hanson, owner of the auction house, said: "These rare royal finds are remarkable, even more so when you consider the family had no idea they had them in their care for around 40 years. | Charles Hanson, owner of the auction house, said: "These rare royal finds are remarkable, even more so when you consider the family had no idea they had them in their care for around 40 years. |
| "The childhood letter from King Charles, written with painstaking care on lined paper, is heart-warming." | "The childhood letter from King Charles, written with painstaking care on lined paper, is heart-warming." |
| Mr Tallon wrote again later to Mr Stockdale's widow, sending his condolences | Mr Tallon wrote again later to Mr Stockdale's widow, sending his condolences |
| Mr Tallon wrote again later to Mr Stockdale's widow, sending his condolences | Mr Tallon wrote again later to Mr Stockdale's widow, sending his condolences |
| He said it was not uncommon for the royal family to give small keepsakes and mementos to valued servants and it was "clear" they had held Mr Stockdale in high regard. | He said it was not uncommon for the royal family to give small keepsakes and mementos to valued servants and it was "clear" they had held Mr Stockdale in high regard. |
| The letter from King Charles has an estimate £2,000-£3,000 while the Queen's Speech, privately printed and very scarce, is guided at £100-£200. | The letter from King Charles has an estimate £2,000-£3,000 while the Queen's Speech, privately printed and very scarce, is guided at £100-£200. |
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| Related topics | |
| Stratford-upon-Avon | Stratford-upon-Avon |
| UK Royal Family | UK Royal Family |
| Coventry & Warwickshire | Coventry & Warwickshire |
| King Charles III | King Charles III |
| Collectors | Collectors |