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Throughout his half-century of loyal service to the royal household, William Tallon kept every little memento, never wanting to put a price on the memories each held for him. To him they were priceless.
But yesterday the public did just that at an astonishing auction of personal notes, letters, photographs and gifts bestowed on him during his 51 years serving the Queen Mother.
Auctioneers had estimated the 700 items put up for sale following the death in November of the Queen Mother's Page of the Backstairs could fetch £250,000 ($653,000). As frenzied bids poured in by phone and online from all over the world, that figure was nearer to £500,000.
"Backstairs Billy", who joined the royal household at 15, never made a penny out of the royals beyond the modest wage he earned and the occasional fine dining perk. Despite lucrative offers for interviews and books, he remained silent.
A letter from Diana, Princess of Wales, following the birth of Prince William, went for £5000. "We are not sure at the moment what has hit us, except a very strong pair of lungs," the Princess wrote.
A letter to her faithful servant from the Queen Mother, instructed him: "I think I will take two small bottles of Dubonnet and gin with me this morning, in case it is needed. It's a beautiful day, could we have lunch under the tree - one could have fourteen at the table and four at a small table." Expected to raise £200-£300, the hammer came down on £16,000.
And so it went on. The royal family's most trusted keeper of secrets in life finally relinquishing in death a few harmless ones of his own.
- OBSERVER
