Late Princess Diana's risqué sense of humour has been revealed through letters she wrote to British actor Terence Stamp, which are now heading to auction. The correspondence, which includes a hilarious sex gag, is expected to fetch thousands of pounds.
Letters Reveal Diana's Wit
Notes written by the late Princess Diana to Golden Globe winner Terence Stamp have resurfaced and will be auctioned by Bonhams on June 15. Stamp, known for his roles in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Superman II, passed away last August at age 87. His personal collection, including scripts, costumes, and furniture, is set to go under the hammer, but it is the letters from Diana that have drawn significant attention.
Intimate Exchange
One letter, dated October 1991, thanks Stamp for a "perfect" risotto lunch and opens up about personal struggles. Diana writes: "Not many people would take the time and trouble to delve into such a complex situation… Three cheers for Prozac, not the American variety I hasten to add!" The note ends with: "Lots of love Terence and a huge thank you, from Diana x." This intimate exchange is expected to fetch between £1,500 ($2,860) and £2,000 ($3,800).
Risqué Postcards
Other items include a postcard featuring a bare female breast on the front, captioned: "All the Breast from London." Another gag postcard shows a couple in bed with the question: "Why did God invent SEX?" The answer inside reads: "So that married people do something at least twice a year." Diana also thanked Stamp for champagne at "lunch a la yeast" in another note.
Stamp's Friendship with Diana
In his 2017 memoir, Stamp reflected on meeting Diana through art dealer Oliver Hoare. "She just wanted somebody to talk to that was a guy who would give her objective opinions," he wrote. "Because of that, we just kind of opened up to each other." He added, "I saw the sadness in her because... she was a believer in the marriage and all that, and it didn’t turn out the way she expected it to," hinting at the failure of her marriage to King Charles III.
Auction Details
Bonhams' head of popular culture Claire Tole-Moir described Stamp as a "defining figure" of his time. "Terence Stamp was not only an incredible actor whose long and varied career gave us many celebrated performances, he was also a defining figure of London in the swinging Sixties, emblematic of a certain style and charm," she said. The auction will include several items from Stamp's estate, offering fans a glimpse into his life and friendships.
