THE FUTURE QUEEN THANKS THE CHAPLAIN FOR HIS CONGRATULATIONS ON HER ENGAGEMENT ELIZABETH II (b. 1926, Queen of Great Britain)

Fine Autograph Letter Signed to the Rev. F. J. Stone, Chaplain at Windsor, saying she thinks "it was so kind of you to write to me, and I send you my sincere thanks for your good wishes and congratulations on my engagement, which touched me very much. It is so lovely to know that one's friends are thinking of one at such an important moment of one's life, and I do want you and Miss Vidal to know how very grateful I am for your kind thought of me ...", 2 sides 8vo., Buckingham Palace headed paper, 5th August

The couple became secretly engaged in 1946, when Philip asked King George VI for his daughter's hand in marriage. The King granted his request providing any formal engagement was delayed until Elizabeth's 21st birthday the following April. Their engagement was officially announced on 9th July 1947. Philip proposed to Elizabeth with a 3-carat round diamond ring consisting of "a center stone flanked by 10 smaller pave diamonds." The diamonds were taken from a tiara that belonged to Philip's mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, and were also used to create a quatrefoil bracelet for Elizabeth.

Item Date:  1947

Stock No:  40411