Letters from British royals sold at auction of servant's collection

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

LONDON (AFP) — Memorabilia belonging to a former British royal servant -- including a letter from the late princess Diana after the birth of Prince William -- shattered pre-sale estimates at auction Saturday.

William Tallon, known as Backstairs Billy, served the royal family for 51 years until his death last year aged 72.

The 700 lots -- which sold for nearly 450,000 pounds (569,000 euros, 892,000 dollars), almost double their estimate -- also included a note highlighting Queen Elizabeth II's late mother's penchant for gin.

Eight letters from Diana to Tallon fetched a total of 20,000 pounds and included one written after William's birth in 1982 which read: "We are not sure at the moment what has hit us, except a very strong pair of lungs!

"Both...