Images of the late Princess of Wales from her school days that were taken and kept safe by a school friend, as well as a letter penned on her honeymoon after her wedding to Charles, have emerged for sale11:55, 03 Jun 2026Rare photos of a young Princess Diana from her school days have emerged for sale at auction.‌The pictures of a fresh-faced Diana were taken by her friend Katherine Hanbury who attended West Heath Girls' School in Sevenoaks, Kent, with her between 1973 and 1977. The images show the then 16-year-old in her room at the private school, walking on the grounds and relaxing in the sunshine with her friends.‌They were taken in 1977 and just months before Diana met the then Prince Charles for the first time. Ms Hanbury has kept hold of the candid snaps for decades, ensuring they remained in good condition.‌The series of photos, along with letters from Diana, are now being sold at Gorringe's Auctioneers of Lewes, East Sussex, for £4,000. Albert Radford, books and manuscripts specialist at Gorringe's, said: "This intimate archive offers a rare glimpse of Diana, Princess of Wales, before duty and fame had the final say."Through our client's recollections from West Heath Girls’ School, Diana comes across as deeply unassuming and domestically minded; someone whose real ambition was simply to have a family and take pride in ordinary things.‌"She remembers Diana volunteering to clean the house of the headmistress, and it is memories like this, and the collection that has come to light, that present the real young Diana in a way that is completely at odds with the public persona that was created by others."She appears here as a young woman suspended between love and history – hopeful, unguarded, and not yet entirely claimed by the institution that would come to define her. In these small, fragile traces, innocence lingers – along with a quiet stubborn belief in something as simple and elusive as love."‌Also included in the archives for sale is a handwritten note by Diana, which was sent to Katherine Hanbury during her and Charles’ honeymoon in Balmoral. Charles and Diana married at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on July 29 1981, and were married for five years before their divorce was finalised in August 1996.The three-page note, dated 27 September 1981, shows Diana’s reflections on an early married life that appears bright and unburdened. She recalls the couple’s honeymoon aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, describing it as a "blissful honeymoon" with “endless sun” and “calm seas,” as they travelled through destinations including Egypt and the Greek Isles before spending time in Scotland.‌Her tone, as shared in excerpts of the letter released by the auction house, is open and upbeat. “Its [sic] wonderful being married,” she wrote, adding that it felt safe to say so after two months.She also expresses a strong preference for rural life during their stay in Scotland, writing that she adored being outside all day and disliked staying in London.Article continues belowDiana also wrote how she was adjusting to royal life, as the then 20-year-old described the formalities she was to abide by, as she penned: “It’s a case of playing with grown-ups!” The sale of the Diana archives, which are expected to fetch between £4,000 and £6,000, will take place on July 7.