Prince Charles & Princess Diana of Wales
[Buckingham Palace, London, England], October 7, 1981
Prince Charles & Princess Diana Wedding Gift TLS With Nice Duchy of Cornwall Connection
TLS

A 1p typed letter signed by Charles, Prince of Wales and 24th Duke of Cornwall (born 1948) as "Charles"; and signed and inscribed by Diana, Princess of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall (1961-1997), as "Yours most sincerely, [?] and Diana." October 7, 1981. [Buckingham Palace, London, England]. On a leaf of watermarked stationery with "Buckingham Palace" embossed letterhead. Expected wear including well-creased paper folds, and isolated minor foxing and edge darkening, else near fine. 7.875" x 12.75." Accompanied by its original transmittal envelope with the Prince of Wales's embossed emblem depicting three ostrich feathers printed in the return address section. Bearing a canceled stamp, postmarked, and neatly letter-opened at top, else very good. The item also comes with a COA.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana had married on July 29, 1981. The royal couple was still sending out thank-you notes three months later. This one was addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Uglow of Kingston Farm, Stoke Climsland, Callington, in eastern Cornwall.

As this letter illustrates, Prince Charles and Princess Diana felt a special connection to the Duchy of Cornwall, a private estate first established in 1337 by royal decree as a means to provide financial independence to the monarch's heir. As the eldest son of Britain's reigning monarch Elizabeth II, Charles had claimed the title of Duke of Cornwall upon his mother's accession in 1952, and he would hold the title for over 70 years until his own accession to the throne as King Charles III in 2022. Princess Diana became Duchess of Cornwall upon her marriage to Prince Charles.

The letter in part:

"We would both like to thank you very much indeed for your most kind contribution to the wedding present which the Duchy [of Cornwall] has given us.

We really are delighted with the mahogany library table which will look splendid in our home at Highgrove and is exactly the right period for the house. We were also most touched to receive the balance of the gift in the form of a cheque with which we shall probably buy some more furniture. As you can well imagine, with two houses to equip from scratch we have quite a difficult task ahead of us!

We have been completely overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity which so many people have shown to us, but, as you will know we have a very special affection for the Duchy and all those who live and work in it and we therefore particularly appreciate your gift. We look forward very much to visiting the Duchy together in the future?"

Prince Charles and Princess Diana would maintain two residences: the centrally located Kensington Palace in London, and a country residence at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire. Highgrove House is an eighteenth-century Georgian mansion that was purchased from Maurice Macmillan by the Duchy of Cornwall in 1980, with rights transferred to the Duke of Cornwall.

Princess Diana visited Cornwall more than a half a dozen times throughout her royal tenure. She toured hospice clinics, hospitals, health care and counseling centers, pharmacies, town halls and markets, schools, libraries, science centers, post offices, and factories in St. Austell, St. Columb, Newlyn, Truro, Torpoint, Saltash, Bodmin, and Camelford between 1983 and 1993. The young royal family vacationed in Tresco, on the nearby Isles of Scilly, in 1989.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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7.875" x 12.75"
Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Nate D. Sanders Auctions (Los Angeles, California), Item ID 73848.