Princess Diana’s close friends are selling letters she wrote to them during her divorce from then-Prince Charles.
Lay’s Auctioneers has 32 letters the late Princess of Wales sent to Susie and Tarek Kassem during the last two years of her life, described as
highly personal letters and cards”… “astonishing” and “confidential.”
Lay’s said in a statement,
Susie & Tarek Kassem, as very close friends of Diana, Princess of Wales, have treasured these letters for over 25 years. They reflect the special and loving relationship they had with the most unique women that they had ever known.
Now, in 2023, the ownership of these poignant documents is a responsibility that the Kassems do not wish to pass on to their children or grandchildren.
They have decided to sell the letters and use proceeds of the sale to support some of the charities that were close to Susie and Diana’s hearts.”
The charities have are, as of yet, unspecified.
One of the letters, dated February 17, 1996, on Kensington Palace stationery, reads
Darling Susie,
Thank you for all the lovely things you said to me on the telephone tonight…
You have no idea the joy and trust you and Tarek have introduced into my life and I count myself extremely fortunate both Tarek and you for believing in me…”
Love, Diana
X”
The letters fall within the time frame that Diana’s divorce from Charles was finalized. The divorce made official in August 1996.
One year later, Diana died in Paris at 37.
In one letter, Diana apologized for canceling plans to the opera in a note dated April 28, 1996,
I am having a very difficult time and pressure is serious and coming from all sides.
It’s too difficult sometimes to keep one’s head up, and today I am on my knees and just longing for this divorce to go through as the possible cost is tremendous,”
Oddly, the letters are not in an auction of their own, but in Lays’ otherwise unimpressive Antiques & Interiors Sale, on February 16th 2023.
(Photos, Lays Auctioneers; via People)
