Thread: The Reign of King Charles III begins

Originally Posted by Norton

Kings are something of centuries long past.

Agreed.


Especially with that 'Presidents' thing going so well lately.

• 101-year-old letter from Queen Mother to go up for auction

To think that a letter from a future queen became a bookmark for a book sold in a second-hand store is remarkable, and now it’s going up for auction.

Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon sent a thank you letter to Mrs. Carmichael from Dundee, Scotland, on 27 January 1923, shortly after her engagement to Prince Albert, Duke of York was announced.

It later wound up as a bookmark and was found nestled into a book at a second-hand store, and was passed down by members of a Brighton family for generations afterwards.

On 26 February it will officially go up for sale with Hansons Auctioneers, where it’s estimated to go for between £400-£600.

The letter is mostly typewritten, as the future Queen Mother insisted on writing personal thank you notes after her engagement was announced. She mentions this in the letter, telling Mrs. Carmichael that she asks forgiveness for the short letter since she has so many to write, “And also this typewritten letter, but my hand has almost given out!”

Attached to the letter is a small photograph of the Queen Mother with a woman, who may be Mrs. Carmichael. The envelope is also included in the lot.

A paper specialist with Hansons Auctioneers noted that this was likely a prized possession, and said that the completeness of the lot “suggests it was treasured by Mrs Carmichael. Perhaps she placed it inside a book to keep it flat and, overtime, mislaid it.”

The seller remains anonymous on Hansons Auctioneers’ website, but said the letter “belonged to my grandmother who found it in a second-hand book she had purchased. It was being used as a bookmark. It was passed on to my mum, who sadly died in 2019 whereupon it became mine. It would have been purchased in Aberdeen in the late 1920s I believe. My family originate from there. Having said that, my great grandma was from Dundee where she worked in the jute mills, so that’s also a possible link.”

Prince Albert and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon were married on 26 April 1923 at Westminster Abbey. Their two children were Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret. In 1936, following the abdication of King Edward VIII, Albert ascended the throne as George VI and reigned until his death in 1952.

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother lived until 2002, dying at the age of 101.

Queen Mother’s 101-Year-Old Letter Found

• King Charles, Queen Camilla Support Lady Gabriella amid Husband's Death

King Charles and Queen Camilla Send 'Heartfelt Prayers' to Lady Gabriella After Husband's 'Shock' Death

King Charles and Queen Camilla are supporting Lady Gabriella following the unexpected death of her husband, Thomas Kingston.

It was announced on Tuesday that Kingston, a British financier, died at age 45 on Sunday. A cause of death has not been determined, but no suspicious circumstances or other parties are involved.

A palace spokesperson said on Tuesday, "The King and The Queen have been informed of Thomas’s death and join Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and all those who knew him in grieving a much-loved member of the family. In particular, Their Majesties send their most heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Gabriella and to all the Kingston family."

A statement released on behalf of Lady Gabriella, Martin and Jill Kingston, Joanna Connolly and Emma Murray said, "It is with the deepest sorrow that we announce the death of Thomas Kingston, our beloved husband, son and brother. Tom was an exceptional man who lit up the lives of all who knew him. His death has come as a great shock to the whole family, and we ask you to respect our privacy as we mourn his passing."

Lady Gabriella, 42, is the only daughter of Prince Michael of Kent, who is first cousins with Queen Elizabeth.

Lady Gabriella and Kingston's bond with King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 75, was often displayed during public outings. In June 2023, the foursome cheered together from the Royal Box at Royal Ascot as the King and Queen's horse competed.

Less than two weeks ago, Lady Gabriella and Kingston joined Queen Camilla at a Celebration of Shakespeare event on Feb. 14.

Lady Gabriella and Kingston often joined the royal family at events in recent years such as a memorial service for Prince Philip in March 2022, Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022 and Queen Elizabeth's funeral in Sept. 2022.

Many members of the royal family also attended Lady Gabriella and Kingston's May 2019 wedding at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, including Queen Elizabeth and Prince Harry (making a surprise appearance just weeks after his son was born).

Hours before news of Kingston's death was made public, Queen Camilla joined Lady Gabriella's parents, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, and other royal family members at the service of Thanksgiving at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle honoring King Constantine of Greece, who died last year.

The late King of Greece was a godfather to Lady Gabriella, and she attended his funeral last year on behalf of Prince William, who was also one of Constantine's godchildren. Although Prince William dropped out of attending the service on Tuesday due to personal reasons, it's understood that his absence was not connected to Kingston's death.

King Charles did not attend the service in honor of King Constantine as he continued to stay largely out of the public eye amid his cancer treatment. The monarch revealed his cancer diagnosis publicly earlier this month.