520201
[Princess Diana]
Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer
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Charles Edward Maurice Spencer, 1964-. 9th Earl Spencer. Typed Letter Signed, Spencer, one page, 8½" x 11", on Althorp crested stationery, The Stables, Althorp, Northampton, March 13, 2002. With original envelope.
Earl Spencer is the brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, the first wife of Prince Charles, the heir apparent to the British throne. In this letter, he graciously declines the offer of a large donation to his company. He writes: “It was very kind of you to write, offering to leave your fortune to my company. However, I hope you will not think me ungrateful if I ask you instead to nominate a charity of your choice, or someone close to you, as your beneficiary. It was kind of you to consider my company as your heir, but I am sure you can think of others who are more deserving of your generosity.”
The letter was the result of a misunderstanding. We are told that the Earl's correspondent had written to convey an offer to donate 250,000 Euros to the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. He addressed the letter to Earl Spencer, who mistakenly thought that the correspondent wanted to donate money to his company instead. The donation was finally made later in 2002.
The Fund began with donations from individuals and business worldwide totaling some £19 million following Diana's death in 1997. The Fund has raised some £80 million more from the sale of authorized products. According to the Earl's web site, www.althorp.com, "We at Althorp have always contributed all our profits from the opening to the Fund and to date have [raised] over £850,000." The Fund has pledged some £50 million in grants to over 300 organizations in Britain and around the world. Those interested in the Fund can find more on its web site, www.theworkcontinues.org.
The title Earl Spencer was created in 1765 in the Peerage of Great Britain for John Spencer, 1st Viscount Spencer, a great-grandson of the1st Duke of Marlborough. Earl Spencer also holds the subsidiary titles of Viscount Spencer, of Althorp in the County of Northampton (created 1761); Viscount Althorp, of Althorp in the County of Northampton (1765); Viscount Althorp, of Brington in the County of Northampton (1905); and Baron Spencer of Althorp, of Althorp in the County of Northampton (1761). All of the titles are in the Peerage of Great Britain except for the 1905 Viscountcy of Althorp, which is in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Until Parliament adopted the House of Lords Act in 1999, all Peers of Great Britain could sit in the House of Lords.
In April 1992, Charles, Viscount Althorp, became the 9th Earl. Educated at Eton and Magdalen College, Oxford, he was a Page of Honour to Queen Elizabeth II. He has a career in television and writing. With his first wife, the former Victoria Lockwood, he has four children, Lady Kitty, twins Lady Eliza and Lady Amelia, and Louis, Viscount Althorp. In 2001 he married Caroline Freud, whom he met as a student at Oxford University, and who has two sons, George and Jonah. Earl Spencer and Caroline have a son, Edmund, together.
In our experience, Earl Spencer's correspondence is not commonly found. This letter has mailing folds but is in excellent condition overall. Earl Spencer has completed the salutation and the complimentary closing in his hand, in the British style, and has signed in black.
Unframed.
This item has been sold.
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