‘The honeymoon was a perfect opportunity to catch up on sleep’: Princess Diana’s thoughts just days after marrying Prince Charles revealed as private letters are sold at auction 

  • 25 letters from Diana to secretary Jane Parsons are going under the hammer
  • They map events such as her and Charles' honeymoon and Prince William's birth
  • She speaks of her relief at returning to her son after a Royal tour of Australia
  • The lots will go under the hammer at Stroud Auction Rooms on April 12 

By Paddy Dinham For Mailonline

Published: 12:39 EDT, 17 March 2017 | Updated: 00:42 EDT, 18 March 2017

An intimate glimpse into Princess Diana's thoughts after landmark moments - such as her wedding to Prince Charles, and Prince William's birth - are going up for auction.

Writing to personal secretary Jane Parsons, she revealed that that their honeymoon as a 'perfect opportunity to catch up on some sleep' and that 24,000 letters of thanks had to be sent out after William was born.

The collection is expected to cause a flurry of interest when it goes under the hammer at Stroud Auction Rooms next month.

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Charles and Diana pictured on the Royal Yacht Brittania, where they spent part of their honeymoon in 1981. The Princess said it was a 'perfect opportunity to catch up on some sleep'

Charles and Diana pictured on the Royal Yacht Brittania, where they spent part of their honeymoon in 1981. The Princess said it was a 'perfect opportunity to catch up on some sleep'

The Princess of Wales holds Prince William while standing beside Prince Charles in 1983. William's birth sparked 24,000 letters of thanks

The Princess of Wales holds Prince William while standing beside Prince Charles in 1983. William's birth sparked 24,000 letters of thanks

The 25 lots include a typed list of wedding gifts, dried flowers from the Princess's wedding bouquet,  letters written during the couple's honeymoon on the Royal Yacht Britannia, and following the birth of Prince William.

There are also thank you letters, Christmas cards, photographs and invitations to numerous Royal events.

Thought to be particularly rare is the letter the Princess sent to Miss Parsons during her honeymoon.

Written on Royal Yacht Britannia-crested paper and dated August 15, 1981, she wrote: 'The honeymoon was a perfect opportunity to catch up on sleep....'

A typed tally of correspondence received after the birth of Prince William includes details of 4,500 baby presents and records that 24,000 thank you letters were sent out by ladies in waiting.

The couple exiting St Pauls Cathedral following their wedding on July 29, 1981

The couple exiting St Pauls Cathedral following their wedding on July 29, 1981

The couple, pictured here during A Royal Tour In Toronto, Canada. They also wrote letters to their staff promising their wouldn't be another 'Baby Wales' after William until she'd had a sufficient rest

The couple, pictured here during A Royal Tour In Toronto, Canada. They also wrote letters to their staff promising their wouldn't be another 'Baby Wales' after William until she'd had a sufficient rest

Letters to 'everyone in the office' give thanks for her 21st birthday present and record her 'gratitude at having such a wonderful collection of people looking after us.' 

The Princess also hopes the staff are not left ' exhausted, overworked and underpaid' after the birth of the new baby prince.

Thanking Miss Parsons and other staff for the gift of a silver photo frame, the Princess says: 'Recently I seem to have endless pictures of William, so it's lovely to think I'll be able to frame one of them for our bedroom.'

She confides: 'I have never been more confused than on my birthday as presents and telegrams were pouring in for W at KP as well as my own - so at the moment I just seem to be churning out letters!'

A letter on Kensington Palace paper dated July 5th, 1983, shows how pleased Princess Diana was to see her young son when she returned from the Royal tour of Australia.

The Diana (pictured with Charles at Balmoral in 1981) correspondence will be sold at Stroud Auction Rooms' on April 12 at 10am

The Diana (pictured with Charles at Balmoral in 1981) correspondence will be sold at Stroud Auction Rooms' on April 12 at 10am

She tells Miss Parsons: 'William recognised us instantly, which was a relief as sometimes children resent their parents leaving them! It's marvellous to be home again and hopefully we won't have to do any more travelling this year... Wishful thinking!'

There are also two letters to the office staff, written by Charles and Diana just a few days after Prince William's birth, both on crested paper, on consecutive days June 25 and June 26, 1982.

Diana states 'I know you are being buried under a avalanche of mail......don't despair, there won't be another baby Wales until I've had a decent rest..' In his letter Prince Charles is 'apologetic at all the extra work we are probably going to land on you!'.

The Diana correspondence will be sold at Stroud Auction Rooms' on April 12 at 10am with viewing on April 11 from 10am to 7pm. Items can also be viewed from 9am on the day of the sale.

For more information ring 01453 873 800, email info@stroudauctions.com or visit the website www.stroudauctions.co.uk 

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