AVA WAVERLEY ACKNOWLEDGES A PRESENT TO THE NEW KING EDWARD VIII WAVERLEY (Ava, Lady, 1896-1974, wife of Sir John Anderson, Viscount Waverley)

Autograph Letter Signed ‘Ava’ to ‘My dear Miles’ telling him that “The King is staying here - and he sent a message to you & John to say how very pleased he was to receive the ‘Coronation’ and that the Queen was delighted too - & that they have now had it placed in a special place in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. I wonder why your mother didn’t tell me she had done this. I was so surprised the the King suddenly spoke of it. What are your plans? Will you thank your mother for the parcel very much...”, 2 sides 8vo., Himley Hall, Dudley, Worcs, headed paper with a note that her “address always 4 North Street”, 6th April, dated in another hand

Himley Hall was the ancestral home of the Earls of Dudley. The second Earl had no desire to live there himself so he transferred control to his son, Viscount Ednam, who succeeded his father as Earl of Dudley in 1932. In 1919 the Viscount married the wealthy heiress Lady Rosemary Leveson-Gower and Himley Hall once again became the ancestral home. Viscount Ednam was a close friend of the royal family, in particular the Prince of Wales. The house became a regular weekend retreat for royal visitors. During this period the Hall was brought up to contemporary standards and modern amenities were introduced to the Hall. It was now an up-to-date, luxurious home, so fashionable that in 1934 the Duke and Duchess of Kent spent the first two weeks of their honeymoon at Himley. King Edward VIII spent his last weekend before his abdication in 1936 at Himley Hall.
Edward VIII had become King on the death of his father, George V, on 20th January 1936.
The book referred to is a book on the Coronation of King Edward VII which was bound by the famous binder, Douglas Cockerell, in 1903 for George V when Prince of Wales, at the request of John E. C. BODLEY (1853-1925, Civil Servant and Writer, Father of Ava). Bodley had written this volume by royal command, and was rewarded with an MVO. However, he was disgruntled at not receiving a greater honour so he returned the order the following day and did not ever present this book. After the deaths of both King George V and Bodley, his widow and two young sons finally sent the book to the new monarch, King Edward VIII. The book is in the Royal Collection Trust.

Item Date:  1936

Stock No:  43029      £175

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