King Charles' note to 'dear Papa' sells for more than £5,000 at auction

A childhood letter written by King Charles to his father has sold at auction for £5,700. The note was written in 1954 when the King was away on a two-month royal tour of Australia with the Queen

A touching letter from a five-year-old King Charles expressing his love for his “dear Papa” has sold at auction for £5,700. The young prince wrote to Prince Philip in 1954 while he and the Queen were away on a two-month royal tour of Australia.

He wrote on Buckingham Palace paper in block letters: “Dear Papa, I am longing to see you in the ship. Love from Charles.” The back of the second page is covered in crosses, representing kisses.

It was the Queen’s first tour Down Under and Charles and Princess Anne remained in London. The letter, from a private collection, was sold for £5,700 including fees at International Autograph Auctions, in Malaga, Spain.