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Queen Elizabeth II's Childhood Letter Fetches £25,000 at Auction

2/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

A childhood letter from Queen Elizabeth II sold for £25,000 at a Kent auction, above the £4,000 estimate.
The letter, addressed to head housemaid Beatrice Stillman, includes sketches and inquiries about pets.
Auctioneer Charles Hanson described the response as 'wild,' with bidders from New York and Hong Kong.
The collection was discovered in 2024, offering insights into domestic communications in the late 1930s, according to Justin Matthews of Hansons.

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Story summary

A childhood letter from Queen Elizabeth II sold for £25,000 at a Kent auction, above the £4,000 estimate.
The letter, addressed to head housemaid Beatrice Stillman, includes sketches and inquiries about pets.
Auctioneer Charles Hanson described the response as 'wild,' with bidders from New York and Hong Kong.
The collection was discovered in 2024, offering insights into domestic communications in the late 1930s, according to Justin Matthews of Hansons.