Heartwarming letter from Princess Diana to a friend to be auctioned

A touching handwritten letter from Princess Diana revealing a young William and Harry’s excitement for Christmas has emerged for auction.

The then Princess of Wales described how the two boys were ‘thrilled that Christmas was on the horizon’ and went on to tell how the young princes had ‘searched high and low’ around Kensington Palace for their presents.

In the same letter Diana also displayed the kind of compassion and empathy she was famous for towards recipient Ivy Woodward, a mother she had befriended while visiting hospital in September 1990.

The then Princess of Wales described how the two boys were ‘thrilled that Christmas was on the horizon’ and went on to tell how the young princes had ‘searched high and low’ around Kensington Palace for their presents

In the same letter Diana also displayed the kind of compassion and empathy she was famous for towards recipient Ivy Woodward, a mother she had befriended while visiting hospital in September 1990

She was introduced to Mrs Woodward while visiting Prince Charles, who was being treated for a broken arm he suffered while playing polo.

Diana ended up comforting the distraught mother whose son, Dean, lay in a coma following a motorbike accident. 

By December 1990 he was well enough to be allowed home to his wife, Jane. 

Diana wrote from ‘one mother to another’ to reassure Mrs Woodward who had clearly fallen out with her daughter-in-law over caring for Dean.

Diana wrote: ‘I’ve been thinking about you a great deal as we head towards Christmas.

‘It was lovely to hear that Dean has improved so much but he wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for his mother and your determination and strength to get him back to full health again.

‘Maybe Dean’s lady feels resentment for not being able to cope with that situation back in August and that can produce guilt and in turn confusion arrived and people are hurt and now Dean has arrived home and she (Jane) has turned very possessive.

‘You mustn’t worry about it as time will iron things out.’

Diana wrote from ‘one mother to another’ to reassure Mrs Woodward who had clearly fallen out with her daughter-in-law over caring for Dean. Diana wrote: ‘I’ve been thinking about you a great deal as we head towards Christmas

Diana also goes on to apologise to Mrs Woodward for the ‘media intrusion’ brought about by their friendship.

The Princess had visited Dean in hospital and was said to have helped wake him from his coma.

The letter, written on Kensington Palace headed notepaper, is now being sold for an estimated £3,000 at Lawrences Auctioneers of Bletchingley, Surrey.

It is being sold alongside a second letter from Diana that offers an insight into her sense of humour.

It was a thank you note she penned to the Royal couple’s bodyguard, Sergeant Ronald Lewis, for taking care of them during their trip to Lagos, Nigeria, in March 1990

It was a thank you note she penned to the Royal couple’s bodyguard, Sergeant Ronald Lewis, for taking care of them during their trip to Lagos, Nigeria, in March 1990.

She wrote: ‘What with the extreme heat and often difficult conditions moving around was a nightmare for you and your luggage! Thank you from the boss’s wife.’

This letter, also on Kensington Palace paper, is estimated to sell for £3,000.

Sarah Ward, of Lawrences Auctioneers, said: ‘In her letter to Ivy Woodward it is clear Diana wrote fro the heart, like one mother to another. The common touch that she had with normal people is here to see.

‘The market for Royal memorabilia remains very buoyant, especially for anything relating to Princess Diana.’

Both letters are being sold by the same private collector on December 3.