Queen Elizabeth II letter offered at Chippenham Auction Rooms

A letter by Queen Elizabeth II relating how she met husband Prince Philip is to auction on April 23.

The then Princess Elizabeth wrote the letter to a friend in 1947, just a few months before she got married.

Queen Elizabeth letter
Queen Elizabeth was just 21 when she wrote the letter

Elizabeth was 21 at the time.

She writes: "I was 13 years of age and he was 18 and a cadet just due to leave. He joined the Navy at the outbreak of war, and I only saw him very occasionally when he was on leave - I suppose about twice in three years.

"Then when his uncle and aunt, Lord and Lady Mountbatten, were away he spent various weekends away with us at Windsor. Then he went to the Pacific and Far East for two years…

"Philip enjoys driving and does it fast! He has his own tiny M.G which he is very proud of - he has taken me about in it, once up to London, which was great fun, only it was like sitting on the road, and the wheels are almost as high as one's head."

The letter is expected to make around £800-1,200 ($1,133-1,700) at Chippenham Auction Rooms.

Auctioneer Richard Edmonds comments: "This is a wonderfully well-preserved letter written in the Queen's hand.

"It gives a fascinating glimpse into the life of the then Princess Elizabeth at what was such a significant time in her life."

Last year Elizabeth overtook Victoria as the longest serving British Monarch - a tally that now stands at 64 years and 68 days.

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