EDWARD VIII (1894-1972, King of Great Britain, Later the Duke of Windsor)

Fine Typed Letter Signed to the Mayor of Chester explaining that this "first visit to this historic city ..." was so long "deferred ... largely due to circumstances, such as the War and my many overseas tours ... I trust that I can take the cordiality of my welcome on arriving here ... to mean that the citizens of Chester ... have forgiven me ... Chester, with its picturesque buildings, its unique walls and fine Cathedral Church has much of interest to offer. Its history, since the days when it was an important Roman settlement and the headquarters of a Legion, is a fascinating study, but ... the City has kept abreast of the times, and I am greatly looking forward to the programme that has been arranged for me ..." thanking the Mayor and sharing his "hope that other opportunities will be given to me of meeting the inhabitants of a City with which I am so closely associated, and in whose prosperity ... I shall always take the deepest interest ...", 1 side folio, with gilt Prince of Wales feathers at the head, Chester, 20th October yellowed on the verso of the conjugate blank, the letter itself is fine

Philip Ziegler, in his recent biography of Edward VIII, notes that when the young Prince was invested as Prince of Wales in 1911, at Caernarvon Castle in Wales, the Mayor and Aldermen of Chester were the only people unhappy with the ceremony, feeling that as Earl of Chester, the ceremony should have happened in their City. The remarks at the beginning of this letter indicate his awareness of their sensitive feelings on the subject.

Item Date:  1926

Stock No:  10665      £575

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