Delightful unseen letter and doodles sent by 10-year-old Princess Elizabeth to Royal Lodge head housemaid reveals late Queen’s early love of horses and dogs

A handwritten letter by a young Princess Elizabeth to the Royal Lodge’s head housemaid is set to fetch thousands at an upcoming auction.

The one-page note was addressed to Beatrice Stillman, the head housemaid at Royal Lodge, and was written when the late Queen was around 10 years old.

It was only discovered two years ago after being kept in a suitcase under a bed for decades.

Written while the Queen was on holiday in Cornwall, the then-princess asked if ‘the birds are well, and the goldfish hasn’t died’.

The adorable note also features a number of doodles by the young royal, including a pair of horses and highwaymen, a seated girl named Mary, a dog called Jim and a boy named John.

A boy and pony jumping a five-bar gate, alongside a man patting a horse, can also be seen among the array of drawings.

Now, the letter is expected to sell for between £2,000 and £4,000 but could fetch far more when it goes under the hammer by Hansons Auctioneers later this month.

Elizabeth, who revealed in the heartfelt letter that she had sent Ms Stillman ‘some primroses we picked, wild’, added: ‘There are some pale pink ones as well as the yellow’.

The one-page note (pictured) was written by the late monarch and addressed to Beatrice Stillman, the head housemaid at Royal Lodge, when Her Majesty was around 10 years old

The personal note reads: ‘Sea Side, Sea Mead, Praa Sands. 

‘Dear Beatrice, 

‘It is very lovely here. We can go down on to the beach from the garden.

‘I hope the birds are well, and the gold-fish haven’t died. Will you please give Cootie (Miss Coote I mean) and Mrs Wade some of the primroses to share. Jock is very well and happy here. Nanny and Joanna send their love to you.’

She signed off the letter: ‘Love from Elizabeth’. 

‘Jock’ is understood to be one of Elizabeth’s beloved ponies, while Hansons valuer Justin Matthews revealed that ‘Mrs Wade’ refers to her long-standing nanny at the time Marion Crawford, who was famously known as Crawfie. 

The letter was one of a cache of correspondence from the Palace to Ms Stillman including her letter of engagement dated May 22, 1936, on behalf of the Duchess of York (later the Queen Mother).

Also included in the archive is an undated slip of paper with the urgent pencil-written request from Princess Margaret which read: ‘Beatrice! Please could you look after my bathing suit? Margaret.’

The letter was one of a cache of correspondence from the Palace to Ms Stillman including her letter of engagement dated May 22, 1936, on behalf of the Duchess of York (later the Queen Mother)

Ms Stillman (pictured), who died in 1991, joined the royal household in 1936 when the late Queen was just 10 years old

Also included in the archive is an undated slip of paper with the urgent pencil-written request from Princess Margaret which read: ‘Beatrice! Please could you look after my bathing suit? Margaret’

Mr Matthews revealed that when he first laid eyes on the historic note, it gave him ‘goosebumps’. 

He added: ‘Queen Elizabeth II, as we remember her – with her love of dogs and horses – is astoundingly evident in this letter penned by her younger self.

‘She is seen to be observant, kind and concerned with others’ wellbeing, just as she was in later years.’ 

Reflecting on the differences between Elizabeth and her sister Margaret’s different style of writing, Mr Matthews said: ‘While Princess Elizabeth’s concerns are all about her pets and the welfare of staff, Princess Margaret’s are slightly more sartorial.

‘Both seem rather fitting for the women they grew up to be.’

Ms Stillman, who died in 1991, joined the royal household in 1936 when the late Queen was just 10 years old. 

However, she quickly went on to forge a close relationship with the royal household, sparking a life-long correspondence between the Queen Mother and Ms Stillman, who went on to marry Alfred Twyman, a gardener at Windsor Castle, in 1946.

Indeed, the pair were so close that when Ms Stillman’s  brother-in-law, John Dicker was killed in an air raid in 1940, the Queen Mother invited his widow and their two young daughters, Rene and Jean, to play with the royal princesses at Royal Lodge.

Ahead of the auction later this month, Hansons valuer Justin Matthews revealed that he has already seen ‘a great deal of interest in this incredible letter’

When Ms Stillman died, a suitcase of her letters, including Christmas cards (pictured), were sent to Jean Westacott, William’s mother and Ms Stillman’s niece

When Jean sadly died two years ago, the note from Elizabeth was found by William Westacott, owner of the archives of the letters, under his late mother’s bed

Rene’s nephew, William Westacott, owner of the archives of the letters, described how his auntie, now aged 95, ‘fondly remembers being presented to George VI and the Queen and the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret.’

He added: ‘She also recalls playing in the large playhouse in the Royal Lodge garden that was gifted to Princess Elizabeth in 1932.

‘It being wartime, the Queen kindly donated some of the princesses’ clothes to the children.’

When Ms Stillman died, a suitcase of her letters, including Christmas cards, were sent to Jean Westacott, William’s mother and Beatrice’s niece.

Yet her historic correspondence with the late Queen would not be unveiled for years.

When Jean sadly died two years ago, the note from Elizabeth was found by William and his family under Jean’s bed.

Mr Westacott, based in Kent, recalled: ‘We knew the letters existed, but to read them in the flesh was a ‘wow’ moment.’

While the exact date of the letter remains unknown, Mr Matthews has good reason to suspect that it must date back to between 1946 and 1940, prior to Elizabeth and Margaret being relocated to Windsor Castle for their safety.

He added: ‘The letter speaks of an idyllic childhood holiday before the war when we know Cornwall was a popular destination for affluent and aristocratic families.

‘In those days, it was very common for children to correspond with household staff they were fond of – especially those who helped take care of their home life (like head housemaids who looked after their laundry and toys.’

With a history dating back to the mid-17th century, Windsor’s Royal Lodge was described as the late Queen’s ‘happy place’ from her early childhood years until her death in September 2022.

Elizabeth and her family were given the Windsor resident as a weekend retreat by George V, with the sprawling grounds even containing miniature cottage Y Bwthyn Bach, a gift to Princess Elizabeth as a child from the people of Wales in 1932.

Ahead of the auction later this month, Mr Matthews revealed that he has already seen ‘a great deal of interest in this incredible letter’.

Describing the significance of the personal note, he added: ‘As well as revealing the innermost concerns of the future queen, is an important and charming historic document.’

The royal letters will be sold at Hansons Auctioneers’ saleroom in Penshurst, Kent, on February 27.