Queen Elizabeth's letter to countess in Gorey to go under the hammer

A RARE personal letter sent to a resident of “Eire” by Britain’s Queen (then princess) Elizabeth more than 60 years ago is to be auctioned next weekend. The recipient was a countess who lived in Gorey, Co Wexford.

The letter, dated October 13th, 1947, is typed on Buckingham Palace notepaper but includes the princess’s handwritten salutation “Dear Lady Wicklow” and sign-off, “Yours sincerely, Elizabeth”.

The princess thanked the Irish aristocrat for a wedding present: “I was so delighted to receive your charming wedding present, and I hope you will accept my grateful thanks for your kind thought in sending it to me”. Beneath the signature, is the typewritten name and address of the recipient: “The Countess of Wicklow, Ballynartragh, Gorey, Co Wexford, Eire”.

The countess was Beatrix Herbert, second wife of Ralph Howard, 7th Earl of Wicklow. The pair, who were both widowed, married in 1942 and lived in the earl’s family ancestral home, Shelton Abbey, Co Wicklow. Following his death in 1946 it is believed that the countess moved to a smaller house in Gorey. She died in a Dublin nursing home in 1957.

The letter is among a selection of royal autographs and letters being sold by specialist auctioneering firm, International Autograph Auctions Ltd. It is estimated at £200-£300.

Princess Elizabeth married the Greek-born Prince Philip (now the Duke of Edinburgh) on November 20th, 1947, at Westminster Abbey. She became queen upon the death of her father George VI in 1952.

The couple received more than 2,500 wedding presents, including a piece of crocheted, cotton lace made from yarn personally spun by India’s Mahatma Gandhi and a gold and jade necklace from King Farouk of Egypt.

Other gifts, given by members of the public, included a hand-knitted cardigan, two pairs of bed-socks and a hand-knitted tea cosy.

Queen Elizabeth’s grandson, Prince William, and his fiancee Kate Middleton, who will be married on April 29th, have reportedly written to wedding guests and well-wishers requesting that they make donations to a special charitable fund rather than buy wedding presents.