PREVIEW

A 101-year-old letter written by the Queen Mother has been discovered in a second-hand book. The thank-you letter, dated January 27, 1923, followed news of the then Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon’s plans to marry Prince Albert, Duke of York, later King George VI. The letter, sent to a Mrs Carmicheal of Downfield, Dundee, Scotland, was discovered by chance by the seller’s grandmother decades ago. It has been passed down through the generations ever since. Buckingham Palace announced their engagement on January 15, 1923, after Prince Albert's third marriage proposal was finally accepted. The Queen Mother famously rejected him twice due to fears about the impact of royal life. The letter is up for auction by Hansons Auctioneers on February 26 and could sell for hundreds of pounds.