Childhood drawings of King Charles III are up for auction this week in England.
The artwork will be offered as part of a selection of ‘extraordinary royal memorabilia’ at Hansons Auctioneers in Derbyshire on June 16. Among the group are pencil portraits of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, labeled “Mum” and “Dad”.
Both designs were made around 1953-1955, when King Charles was only five or six years old. Sold as a single lot, they carry a pre-sale estimate of £5,000 to £10,000 ($6,300 to $12,700).
Another sketch, made around the same time, depicts a sailor filling a glass of “hair restorer” from an urn. A note on the back, dated March 25, 1954, reads: “Dear Dad, Can’t wait to see you in the ship, Love from Charles.” His own estimate is between £3,000 and £4,000 ($3,800 to $5,100).
Childhood drawings of King Charles III of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Courtesy of Hansons Auctioneers.
“With pencil and pencil, almost every child’s first drawings represent their family,” said Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, in a statement. “Our king was no different. This collection will help people identify even more with him in his role as monarch.
Other early illustrations by the now 74-year-old monarch include images of a pair of crimson bee-eater birds, which are jointly estimated to sell for £2,000-4,000 ($2,500-5,100); a Harrod-style delivery van labeled “Happybright, Mr Charles’s Shop”, expected to fetch £2,000-3,000 ($2,500-3,800); and an Easter card with a bunny, which is expected to cost between £1,000 and £2,000 ($1,200 to $2,500).
The artwork will be offered alongside other royal relics, including letters, Christmas cards and several sets of candid photographs featuring King Charles, Princess Anne, Princess Margaret, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
“It’s an extraordinarily touching collection,” Hanson said. “These poignant childhood drawings and moving photos remind us that far from the pomp, pageantry and demands of serving the nation, our Royals cherish the ordinary, everyday moments of family life.”
Photographs of the Royal Family circa 1957-61. Courtesy of Hansons Auctioneers.
The memorabilia pieces were collected by Henry Ramsay Maule, a former royal correspondent who wrote the book All the Queen’s Children about Queen Elizabeth. Maule was also in the process of writing a biography of Prince Philip when he died in 1981. The materials he amassed for these and other projects were later passed on to his family.
“The objects were given to Henry Maule to support his work of documenting the life of the royal family, which included writing All the Queen’s Children. They have remained hidden for over 30 years since his death in 1981,” Hanson explained. “Now is the time for others to enjoy it and gain a new insight into the life of the British Royal Family.”
Also on offer for Hanson’s sale this week is an older selection of personal correspondence from Queen Charlotte, King George III and King William IV, among other royals. They are consigned by the heirs of Sir Herbert Taylor, Britain’s first private secretary to a sovereign.
A childhood sketch of King Charles III. Courtesy of Hansons Auctioneers.
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