£450k for Queen Mother's treasures

Jul 6 2008

A SALE of Royal Family memorabilia made almost £450,000 at auction yesterday.

The collection belonged to the Queen Mother's favourite servant, William Tallon, better known as Backstairs Billy.

Top-priced item was a portrait of the Queen Mum by Sir James Dunn which sold for £30,000.

A letter estimated to go for between £200 and £300 sold for £16,000.

The hand-written note from the Queen Mum to Billy instructed him to pack booze for a trip.

It read: "I will take two small bottles of Dubonnet and gin with me this morning, in case it is needed."

Eight letters to Billy from Diana, Princess of Wales, earned £20,000.

Billy worked for the Royals for 51 years. He died in November aged 72.

James Grinter, of Reeman Dansie Auctions, said: "You don't get as close to the Royals as William did."