Prince Charles and Princess Diana signed card:
Pristine 1983 Christmas card inscribed by the Prince of Wales to a close friend and fellow soldier in the Royal Navy and signed by both
Item Condition
Partly printed card, reading, “With all Good Wishes/For Christmas/and the New Year,” bearing a color photograph of the couple posing with their son, Prince William. Inscribed by Charles “To you both – from”, and signed “Charles” and then “Diana” – very fine with two bold and distinct signatures. Housed in a gilt frame and matting, with small black plaque toward bottom of frame dating the card to Christmas 1983. Not examined out of frame.
Background Information
Prince Charles and Princess Diana were married in 1981, and had two sons, William and Henry. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1996, and Diana died in a car crash in Paris the following year. Following royal tradition, the couple sent out annual Christmas cards, inscribed and signed for a select few.
The photograph in the card was taken in Balmoral Castle in Scotland, the private residence of The Queen and a favorite resort for the royal family during the summer holidays. Diana is sitting on a swing, holding baby William, who is a year old. Charles, standing, is wearing the Royal Balmoral Tartan, designed by Prince Albert back in 1853 for members of the family to wear during their stays at Balmoral. Queen Elizabeth wears this tartan, along with other members of the family that have received express permission from her to do so.
This card was sent to Commander James Perowne, a friend of Prince Charles whom he met aboard a ship while serving in the Royal Navy. Perowne was a long-time correspondent with Charles, and served as an usher at the royal couple’s wedding just two years previously. Captain Perowne was later stationed at the British Embassy in Washington D.C, and greeted the Prince and Princess on their visit to Washington.
Offered with a letter of provenance from Perowne who writes that, “This 1983 Christmas card was received by me from the Prince and Princess of Wales. It was my good fortune to have served with Prince Charles onboard HMS JUPITER 1974-75 and to have been invited to usher his wedding in 1981…” Accompanied by the original envelope, stamped and dated as registered mail from Buckingham Palace in December 1983, along with various other pictures and document.
A magnificent remainder of the royal couple’s short marriage, with Princess Diana’s rare and valuable signature and excellent provenance, this piece is sure to animate bidders worldwide.