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Lot #243
King Charles III Autograph Letter Signed to Jimmy Savile on the Royal Family's Response to Disasters

"It is, I suppose, a vain hope that they would listen to anything I suggested…!" — Prince Charles attempts to create guidelines for the Royal Family's response to major accidents or disasters

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Estimate: $400+
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Description

"It is, I suppose, a vain hope that they would listen to anything I suggested…!" — Prince Charles attempts to create guidelines for the Royal Family's response to major accidents or disasters

ALS signed “C,” one page both sides, 7.5 x 4.75, H.R.H. The Prince of Wales Memorandum stationery, January 27, 1989. Handwritten letter to BBC personality Jimmy Savile, in full: “I attach a copy of my memo * (And Richard Aylard’s response to mine) on disasters which incorporated your points & which I showed to my father & gave to Bill Heseltine. He showed it to H.M. & has sent me his comments which are not exactly all that helpful. I enclose those as well. They seem to be determined...to ignore the fact that I have now been involved in visiting the injured in 7 of these disasters & so have some experience of what happens & what should be done. Heseltine etc. have never been to any of them & have no idea whatsoever of the situations involved. It is, I suppose, a vain hope that they would listen to anything I suggested...!” As referenced by Charles, the lot includes copies of memos addressed by Aylard to Charles and Heseltine, dated January 20 and 25, 1989, a copy of Heseltine’s comments, and a copy of the manuscript draft for “MAJAX, a manual for Hospitals, Fire, Police, Ambulance, et al., on the occasion of a Major accident or disaster. Guidelines for members of the Royal Family and their staffs.” In fine condition.

Sir Jimmy Savile was a British television presenter and charity fundraiser who was posthumously revealed to have allegedly sexually abused hundreds of people, including children, over a period of several decades. He also notably held a relationship with Prince Charles, one formed over their shared interest in charity events. It’s purported that Savile acted as an unofficial adviser to Prince Charles, who sought his advice on a number of occasions on how the royal family ought to interact with the public and media. In 2012, following the revelations about Savile's alleged abuse, Clarence House, the official residence of Prince Charles, issued a statement saying that the Prince of Wales had ‘no knowledge’ of Savile's wrongdoing and had not been in contact with him since 1999. In spite of these allegations, Savile was praised in obituaries for his personal qualities and his work raising an estimated £40 million for charities.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: Fine Autograph and Artifacts Featuring JFK 60th / Presidents
  • Dates: #678 - Ended November 08, 2023





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