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Prince William flight defended ... A note in which the Queen Mother asked her aide to pack gin and Dubonnet has sold for £16,000 - well over the expected £3,000.

It was the most sought-after item in the unique collection of royal letters, photographs and artefacts sold at auction on Saturday.

The items were discovered after the death of former royal servant William Tallon, known as Backstairs Billy.

He was in service for 52 years, and was a favourite of the Queen Mother.

The hand-written note which sparked a telephone bidding war read: "I think that I will take two small bottles of Dubonnet and gin with me this morning, in case it is needed."

About 400 people followed proceedings in the auction room of Reeman Dansie in Colchester, Essex, with another 1,000 placing bids by phone and the internet.

Before the auction began it was thought that the collection could fetch at least £250,000.

But with many lots selling for 15% above the estimated price, auctioneer James Grinter said that £500,000 was a more likely total.

Also in demand was a letter sent to Mr Tallon by Princess Diana after the birth of Prince William.

The princess wrote: "We are not sure at the moment what has hit us, except a very strong pair of lungs."

That sold for £5,000 to a telephone bidder.

The auction is an intimate look into Mr Tallon's life as a royal insider. He joined the royal household aged 15, and kept every thank-you letter, Christmas card and invitation he received.

He never spoke publicly about the royals, and turned down requests to write a book or be interviewed. He died last November aged 72.

Janet Canon, of Reeman Dansie, said bidders had flown in from overseas, especially from the United States and Canada, to take part.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman would not comment on the sale.

(BBC)

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