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Princess Elizabeth's hidden art surfaces
15 Sep
Summary
- Childhood drawings by Princess Elizabeth depict animals and people.
- A note from Princess Elizabeth mentions primroses and birds.
- The archive was discovered in a suitcase under a bed in 2024.
A recently discovered suitcase has unveiled a remarkable collection of Princess Elizabeth's childhood artifacts, offering an intimate look at her early years. The material, kept by a former head housemaid's family, includes a handwritten note and numerous pencil drawings from the period between 1936 and 1940, when the future queen was a child.
The letter, written from Praa Sands in Cornwall, reveals Elizabeth's thoughts on holidaying birds, goldfish, and her pony Jock. It also details her desire to share wild primroses with other members of the Royal Lodge household, showcasing a thoughtful gesture.
Accompanying the correspondence are informal sketches featuring horses, highwaymen, people, and a dog named Jim, suggesting a child's amusement and interests. These drawings place her well-documented affection for animals further back in her life, predating the war's disruption.
The archive also contains a brief note from Princess Margaret and other papers connected to the royal household. This trove, passed down through generations, was rediscovered in 2024 among belongings left in a family home. The collection is now being offered for auction in February 2026, with an estimate of £2,000 to £4,000.
