Collection exceeds expectations

Last Modified: 05 Jul 2008
Source: PA News

Hundreds of unique Royal mementoes have gone under the hammer for tens of thousands of pounds.

The collection of William Tallon - affectionately known as Backstairs Billy for his role as Page of the Backstairs - was sold at an auction in Colchester, Essex.

Among the biggest single sales was a letter from the Queen Mother instructing Tallon to pack some Dubonnet and gin, "in case it is needed".

The lot, expected to make between £200 and £300, sold for £16,000 to a mystery telephone bidder. The hand-written note from the Queen Mother included the instruction: "I think that I will take two small bottles of Dubonnet and gin with me this morning, in case it is needed."

The auction, run by Reeman Dansie auctioneers, was held following Tallon's death last November. Tallon joined the Royal Household in 1951, aged 15, and over the following 51 years worked his way up to become the Queen Mother's Steward and the Page of the Backstairs.

Eight letters Diana, Princess of Wales, penned to Tallon thanking him for a range of things, were also sold for about £20,000.

One of the most poignant, dated June 28, 1982 and written following the birth of her first son, William, went for £5,000 to an anonymous telephone bidder.

It said: "We are not sure at the moment what has hit us, except a very strong pair of lungs! - Both parents are making little sense, we just seem to spend most of our time gazing at this tiny person!"

Auctioneer James Grinter said the auction had exceeded expectations, with the total sale value expected to reach £500,000, dwarfing the predicted £200,000.

"There are bidders from across the world - it's been a very well viewed sale," he said.

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