A handwritten letter by Queen Elizabeth II, detailing how she fell in love with Prince Philip, has realised £14,400 ($20,784).
The lot sold at Chippenham Auction Rooms on April 23, smashing a valuation of £1,200 ($1,700) by 1,100%.
 In the letter Queen Elizabeth explains how she met Prince Philip |
It's addressed to author Betty Shew in 1947, who was writing a souvenir book for the upcoming royal wedding.
The Queen writes: "I was 13 years of age and he was 18 and a cadet just due to leave. He joined the Navy at the outbreak of war, and I only saw him very occasionally when he was on leave - I suppose about twice in three years.
"Then when his uncle and aunt, Lord and Lady Mountbatten, were away he spent various weekends away with us at Windsor. Then he went to the Pacific and Far East for two years…"
She also writes of Philip's famous love of fast cars: "Philip enjoys driving and does it fast! He has his own tiny M.G which he is very proud of - he has taken me about in it, once up to London, which was great fun, only it was like sitting on the road, and the wheels are almost as high as one's head."
Auctioneer auction Richard Edmonds told the Western Daily Press: "This is a fantastic result. It was quite an honour to be able to sell such an important document, particularly as the country is celebrating the Queen's 90th birthday.
"The bidding was both online and over eight phone lines. It was pretty fast and furious. At times our internet connection looked like it was lighting up."
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