Princess Diana's £2,500 cards

26-11-2008 14:00

Greetings cards written by Britain's late Princess Diana have sold for £2,500.

The two cards - which belonged to former royal chef Mervyn Wycherley who worked for the royal family for 23 years - were expecting to fetch around £1,000 but a bidding war broke out when they went on sale at auction house Reeman Dansie in Colchester, Essex on Monday (24.11.08).

It said: To Mervie, please could I have a bacon sandwich for breakfast and a much-needed rest from our friend the tomato! D

Auctioneer James Grinter said: "It's a very buoyant market, it has not been affected at all by the credit crunch. People would rather invest their money into something they can keep in their home and enjoy and which will hopefully rise in value."

A birthday card covered with pictures of condoms reached £1,300 after a fierce competition between telephone, internet and bidders in person.

In the card, the princess wrote: "Dear Mervyn, wishing you a VERY Happy Birthday, with much love from Diana X."

A Valentine's card with a cartoon bear on the front fetched £1,200. Inside Diana joked to Mervyn: "Hey Valentine... not many men will receive a Valentine's card from Princess Diana... and you are one of them!!!"

Also included was a handwritten note in which Diana talked about her pregnancy cravings.