Two charming pencil sketches said to be the work of a young Queen Elizabeth II of her childhood nanny before she fell out of favour with the monarchy come to light
- The sketches are thought to be of former governess or tutor Marion Crawford
- Sketches drawn on Royal Coat of Arms-headed paper and found inside a book
- Date 1932 is stamped on book but the drawings are more likely from later on
- They are expected to fetch £3,000 at auction in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
Two sketches of a woman purported to be the work of a young Queen Elizabeth II are up for auction.
One pencil sketch shows the profile of a woman while the other is of the same person knitting.
The woman is believed to be Marion Crawford, the governess or tutor to Elizabeth and Princess Margaret and who served in the Royal household from 1932 to 1947.
Two sketches of a woman purported to be the work of a young Queen Elizabeth II are up for auction. The woman is believed to be Marion Crawford, the governess or tutor to Elizabeth and Princess Margaret and who served in the Royal household from 1932 to 1947
Ms Crawford (right) was a Scottish-born educator who Elizabeth affectionately referred to as ‘Crawfie’
Although the date 1932 is stamped on the book, Elizabeth would have been aged just six so it is more likely the drawings date from later on. Pictured: A sketch of a woman’s profile
They were drawn on official Royal Coat of Arms-headed paper and found inside a book titled ‘The Scottish National War Memorial’.
The inside page of the book was signed by Elizabeth in blue fountain pen.
Although the date 1932 is stamped on the book, Elizabeth would have been aged just six so it is more likely the drawings date from later on.
The sketches have been consigned for sale by a private collector of Royal memorabilia with auctioneers William George & Co, of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.
They are expected to fetch £3,000.
One pencil sketch shows a woman knitting. The sketches were drawn on official Royal Coat of Arms-headed paper
The notepaper used for the sketches is embossed with the seemingly authentic Royal arms suggesting that the drawings are from somewhere within the Royal household. Pictured: Ten-year-old Princess Elizabeth with her father then George, Duke of York, in 1936
The two drawings were found inside a book titled ‘The Scottish National War Memorial’
The inside page of the book was signed by then-Princess Elizabeth in blue fountain pen
Alex McCormick, of William George & Co, said: ‘Found within Elizabeth’s signed book were two sketches in pencil, one side profile of a lady and the other sketch is of this same lady knitting.
‘There is speculation that as these sketches were found in her book, they most likely would have been drawn by a member of the Royal family close to Elizabeth at the time or perhaps even by the Queen herself.
‘Who is depicted in the sketches is also a mystery but we believe it could perhaps be a governess looking after her at the time or indeed a family member.
The royal Coat of Arms can be seen on the paper. One art expert described the emergence of the sketches as a ‘fascinating’ discovery
‘Marion Crawford was employed in 1932 as the nursery governess to both Elizabeth and Margaret.’
One art expert described the emergence of the sketches as a ‘fascinating’ discovery.
Michael Liversidge, Emeritus Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Bristol University, said: ‘It is a fascinating and intriguing discovery.
‘The notepaper is embossed with the Royal arms which appears authentic and this suggests it must be from somewhere within the Royal household.
The sketches were found inside a book titled ‘The Scottish National War Memorial’ (pictured)
Ms Crawford reportedly fell out of favour with the Royals after releasing tell-all book ‘The Little Princesses’ in 1950
‘I’m not aware if the Queen took drawing classes or tutoring when she was very young.
‘Who could have done the drawings, it is difficult to say.
‘It is possible they could be by the Queen, but I don’t think one would be able to say for certain.
‘They appear to be too good for a child of six, but I have seen very fine sketches by 15 year old artists.’
Ms Crawford was a Scottish-born educator who Elizabeth affectionately referred to as ‘Crawfie.’
Ms Crawford reportedly fell out of favour with the Royals after releasing tell-all book ‘The Little Princesses’ in 1950.
Neither the Queen nor any other member of the Royal Family are said to have spoken to her again.
She died in 1988 aged 78 in Aberdeen.
The timed sale ends on March 4.