Prince Harry was “constantly in trouble” while at boarding school, letters sent by Diana, Princess of Wales, to a favoured Buckingham Palace steward have revealed.

Part of a letter to palace steward Cyril Dickman written by Diana. Photo: Cheffins Fine Art via AP

The six handwritten notes are part of a collection described as “the private letters between a trusted butler and the royal family” that have sold at auction for £15,100 ($A25,553).

The personal notes, sent to Cyril Dickman in the 1980s and 1990s, include a description of how in the days after Harry was born Prince William was inseparable from his baby brother – and gave him “an endless supply of hugs and kisses”.


As well as revealing details about the private life of the young family at Kensington Palace, the messages show how fond Diana was of Dickman, who provided her with support after the death of her father in 1992.

The entire Dickman collection, including handwritten notes from other senior royals dating back more than 30 years, 
sold for £55,000 ($A93.074).

Princess Diana's private letters show William and Harry's love for each other https://t.co/DJPKzAV9Ah

— Prince Harry Support (@PHarryWales) December 25, 2016

Diana said it was a “particularly happy time” in a letter sent five days after Harry’s birth in September 1984.

She wrote: “William adores his little brother and spends the entire time swamping Harry with an endless supply of hugs and kisses, hardly letting the parents near!

“The reaction to one tiny person’s birth has totally overwhelmed us and I can hardly breathe for the mass of flowers that are arriving here!”

In October 1992 she wrote to Mr Dickman ahead of a trip to Asia with the Prince of Wales.

“The boys are well and enjoying boarding school a lot, although Harry is constantly in trouble!” she wrote, adding: “We are off to Korea in November for a visit so a good place to do the Christmas shopping!”

John Foster, of Cheffins auctioneers in Cambridge, said interest in the collection had been “phenomenal”, with inquiries coming from as far afield as Japan, Australia and Canada.

The total collection sold well in excess of its estimate.

Princess Diana's private letters are expected to fetch up to £15,000 at auction pic.twitter.com/LaWWzKfFqD

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) January 5, 2017