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Royal memorabilia up for auction Queen Mother 'pack gin' note sold
(about 6 hours later)
A unique collection of royal letters, photographs and artefacts is to go up for auction. A note in which the Queen Mother asked her aide to pack gin and Dubonnet has sold for £16,000 - well over the expected £3,000.
It was the most sought-after item in the unique collection of royal letters, photographs and artefacts sold at auction on Saturday.
The items were discovered after the death of former royal servant William Tallon, known as Backstairs Billy.The items were discovered after the death of former royal servant William Tallon, known as Backstairs Billy.
It is thought the collection could raise at least £250,000 when it is auctioned in Colchester, Essex. He was in service for 52 years, and was a favourite of the Queen Mother.
Mr Tallon worked for the royal family for 52 years and was known for devoted service to the Queen Mother. He never spoke publicly about the royals. The hand-written note which sparked a telephone bidding war read: "I think that I will take two small bottles of Dubonnet and gin with me this morning, in case it is needed."
He also turned down all requests to write a book or be interviewed. About 400 people followed proceedings in the auction room of Reeman Dansie in Colchester, Essex, with another 1,000 placing bids by phone and the internet.
class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7487366.stm">In pictures: Royal items auction The auction is an intimate look into his life as a royal insider. Mr Tallon, who joined the royal household when aged 15, kept every thank you letter, every Christmas card and every invitation he received. Before the auction began it was thought that the collection could fetch at least £250,000.
Janet Canon of Reeman Dansie, the auction house running the sale, said it was a "lovely collection of quite amazing bits and pieces". But with many lots selling for 15% above the estimated price, auctioneer James Grinter said that £500,000 was a more likely total. class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7487366.stm">In pictures: Royal items auction
She added: "Lots of people are flying in from overseas, especially from America and Canada, to take part in the auction." Also in demand was a letter sent to Mr Tallon by Princess Diana after the birth of Prince William.
Included in the sale is a letter sent to Mr Tallon by Princess Diana after the birth of Prince William that reads: "We are not sure at the moment what has hit us, except a very strong pair of lungs." The princess wrote: "We are not sure at the moment what has hit us, except a very strong pair of lungs."
There is also a note from the Queen Mother that says: "I think that I will take two small bottles of Dubonnet and gin with me this morning, in case it is needed." That sold for £5,000 to a telephone bidder.
The auction is an intimate look into Mr Tallon's life as a royal insider. He joined the royal household aged 15, and kept every thank-you letter, Christmas card and invitation he received.
He never spoke publicly about the royals, and turned down requests to write a book or be interviewed. He died last November aged 72.
Janet Canon, of Reeman Dansie, said bidders had flown in from overseas, especially from the United States and Canada, to take part.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman would not comment on the sale.A Buckingham Palace spokesman would not comment on the sale.