The essence
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A collection of letters and previously unpublished photographs of Princess Diana will go up for auction on July 7.
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The sale is timed to coincide with Diana's 65th birthday, which is celebrated on July 1, and the 45th anniversary of her wedding to Prince Charles, which is celebrated on July 29.
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Four previously unpublished photographs show Diana before her marriage to Charles, when she was still Lady Diana Spencer and a pupil at West Heath Girls' School.
Almost 30 years after her tragic death in 1997, the world remains fascinated by the life of Princess Diana – and her life yet before She married a member of the royal family in 1981.
A new collection of previously unpublished photographs and letters from the former Princess of Wales will be auctioned in July, including previously unpublished photographs from Lady Diana Spencer's time at West Heath Girls' School in the 1970s. These items are from the collection of Catherine Hanbury, a childhood friend of Diana's who attended West Heath with her from 1973 to 1977.
Lady Diana Spencer, November 14, 1980. Photo: Getty
The items will go up for auction at Gorringe's on July 7, which coincides not only with Diana's 65th birthday (July 1) but also the 45th anniversary of her wedding to Prince Charles (July 29).
The collection includes four previously unpublished color photographs. The group includes two photos of Diana in her dorm room and one photograph outdoors. The fourth and final photograph shows the future princess and her classmates relaxing outside the school building. All of these photographs can be viewed on the website. People .
Lady Diana Spencer in December 1980. Photo: Getty.
The collection also includes a handwritten birthday card from Diana Hanbury and a letter from Hanbury, dated September 27, 1981, written by Diana during her honeymoon with Charles. The letter is three pages long and written on stationery bearing the royal coat of arms at the top of each page.
«"Dear Catherine, I can't tell you what a wonderful surprise it was when I opened your card," Diana wrote. "Thank you so much for writing and wishing me all the best." She continued that she and her fiancé "had a wonderful honeymoon with endless sunshine and, thankfully, calm seas. Thank you so much for your kind wishes. With love, a very grateful Diana.".
Princess Diana sets off on her honeymoon with Prince Charles. Photo: Getty
Charles and Diana embarked on a 12-day Mediterranean cruise on the royal yacht Britannia, after which they will head to Balmoral in Scotland for the remainder of their honeymoon. As reported The Telegraph , Diana wrote that she and her husband "are currently in Scotland until the end of October, which is a great joy for us - I love spending all day outdoors and hate London!"«
«"Marriage is wonderful, I think it's safe to say that after two months of marriage…!" she continued. Speaking about adjusting to life in the royal family, she added, "It's like playing with adults!"»
Albert Radford, a book and manuscript specialist at Gorringes Museum, said: "This exclusive archive provides a rare glimpse into Diana, Princess of Wales, before duty and fame took over.".
Prince Charles and Princess Diana on their honeymoon at Balmoral on August 19, 1981. Photo: Getty
«"Our client's memories of West Heath Girls' School reveal Diana as a very modest and homebody; someone whose true dream was simply to have a family and take pride in the simple things," he continued. "She remembers volunteering to clean the headmistress's house, and it's these memories, along with the discovered collection, that present the real young Diana in a completely different light from the public image others have created.".
«"Here she emerges as a young woman caught between love and history—hopeful, open, and not yet fully accepted by the institution that will ultimately determine her fate," Radford said. "In these small, fragile glimpses, innocence is preserved—along with a quiet, stubborn faith in something as simple and elusive as love.".
Lady Diana Spencer in September 1980. Photo: Getty.
In addition to previously unpublished photographs and letters, the collection also includes the program for Diana's memorial service, which took place at St. Martin-in-the-Fields on November 19, 1997, more than two months after her death in a car crash in Paris on August 31. She was just 36 years old.
According to data People publications , Gorringe's expects the collection to sell for between $5,383 and $8,076.
Read the original article on InStyle.