Princess Diana's 'witty and intelligent' private letters are to be sold at auction, giving new insight into her inner world

The never-before-seen letters offer a profound insight into the late royal's life

FRANCE - JANUARY 21: Lady Diana at the Rugby match France-Wales in Paris, France on January 21, 1995. (Photo by Jean-Luc PETIT/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
(Image credit: Jean-Luc PETIT/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Princess Diana's private letters are to be sold to the public at an upcoming auction, after 23 years in hiding. 

Princess Diana's legacy lives on long after her death, but now fans will gain new insight into her inner world. The late royal’s private letters have been dug up from the archives and will be available to the public to buy at an auction in March. 

The 39 letters and cards, which sat untouched in a ‘cupboard in a country farmhouse’ for over 23 years, reveal a profound insight into the mind of Lady Diana as she navigates life as one of the world’s most famous people. 

According to David Lay Auctioneers, the company in charge of the auction, the collection reveals the princess's 'witty and intelligent hand' whilst showcasing her ‘great generosity of spirit.’ 

The hand-written notes, which are all addressed to a close family friend, Roger Bramble, are dated between August 1990 and May 1997 and mention a number of subjects close to Diana’s heart - including her two children, Prince William, and Prince Harry. 

In one letter composed in 1993, Diana wrote about her sons’ excitement at being part of a sophisticated lunch. "The boys were thrilled to be included in such adult conversation!” she recalled. “A memory never to be erased was seeing you receive your gong - a first for William and yourself!” 

The letters also touch on her personal struggles, with one note referring to her ‘ghastly week.’ The date of this message reads June 12, 1992, which was the same week that her marriage to Prince Charles was the source of endless tabloid scrutiny. 

Roger, who had been friends with Diana since childhood, gave the letters to a younger relation who then passed them on to be auctioned. While bidding has yet to commence, a previous similar auction revealed just how much fans are willing to pay for a piece of Diana memorabilia. A single letter belonging to the late royal sold by David Lay Auctioneers was bought for £1750 last August, after a ‘flurry’ of intense bidding. 

The auction company has decided against selling the entire collection as one lot and will instead sell most of the pieces individually, to ensure ordinary people have a chance at affording an exclusive letter. 

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.


Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.