CHARLES III (1948- ) King of the United Kingdom since 2022. A.L.S., Charles, as Prince of Wales, four pages, 8vo, Sandringham, Norfolk, 12th January 1987, to Vernon Russell-Smith. The future King commences his letter stating ´The hornbeams should, I trust, all be in by now but they are different sizes, I notice´, adding ´I hope they have now made square holes round the trees, rather than the round ones which I saw initially!´. The Prince continues to send his correspondent a list (no longer present) ´of plants for the bank which I sent to the man at Savill Gardens, who has ticked the ones he can supply´ and comments ´He seems to be able to produce quite a few - so we are left with the remainder to find´, further asking ´Do you think it would be best to have these Savill Gdn. plants delivered in the Spring or in later Feb? If I ask them to be delivered in Feb. it is bound to be totally frozen, I suppose! A possibility for a planting session is 22nd/23rd March. Is that any good for you? It may be subject to change at short notice, that is the only trouble!´. The Prince concludes his letter by conveying some information to Russell-Smith, ´By the way, a Mr & Mrs. Stopford-Sackville, from a wonderful house in Northants called Drayton, may be in touch with you about planning a garden improvement. I gave them your name as they have had a problem with someone else who charged the earth!´ and wishes his correspondent a very Happy New Year. Accompanied by the original registered envelope hand addressed by the Prince and signed by him with his initial (´C´) to the lower left corner. Some light creasing, about VG

Vernon Russell-Smith (1925-2003) English photographer who worked as an assistant to Dorothy Wilding in the 1950s and later changed careers to become a landscape consultant and horticultural architect, through which he maintained a friendship with the Prince of Wales.