Hyacinth Bucket would have been green with envy if she’d seen Dame Patricia Routledge’s private letters from the King. Together with correspondence from the late Commons speaker Betty Boothroyd and former Prime Minister Theresa May, they are among the fascinating items going under the hammer later this month, as part of an auction of the star’s estate.And, in stark contrast to Hyacinth, the famously social climbing character she played in the 1990s BBC1 sitcom, Keeping Up Appearances - which was sold to 45 countries - Dame Patricia never flaunted her friendships with those in the higher echelons of society.Many of the letters to the actress, who died in October 2025, aged 96, were written on Clarence House and House of Commons headed note paper. Awarded a damehood at Buckingham Palace in 2017 by the King, when he was still Prince of Wales, for her services to theatre and charity, Charles also sent her a typed letter in 2004, congratulating her on an earlier honour - a CBE.He wrote: “I was delighted to hear the splendid news of your Honour, and wanted to send you my warmest possible congratulations.” It was signed “Charles, The Prince of Wales. 12th June 2004.”‌Most insightful is the correspondence between her and Baroness Betty Boothroyd, who died aged 93, in 2023. Written between 1998 and 2014, the personal letters show the friends had a shared love of politics. Baroness Boothroyd confided that dreary days in Parliament sometimes got her down.And she joked that her friend was so well known by then Duke and Duchess of Cornwall (Prince William and wife Catherine) that she was not considered a security risk when visiting London’s St James's Palace.In a letter sent to Dame Patricia, ahead of a visit to Australia in February, 2014, Baroness Boothroyd wrote: "My dear Patricia. I guess security services don’t bother to frisk you - you are so well known at the grand addresses of St James’. The Cornwalls must get withdrawal symptoms if they don’t see you for a week or two! What about the Windsors and Cambridges - are they in your diary before Oz?”‌She also joked about her health and her landlord, the Duke of Westminster. She wrote: "I’ve taken on a personal trainer for one hour a week (expensive rubbish). The central heating in my flat (and others) has broken down, so the knives are out for the Duke of Westminster et al."The arthritis seems to have moved down the legs to the hands, hence this terrible scribble. Better wind up. Best love Betty."An earlier letter dated July 6, 1998, saw the baroness joking about reports of how she’d taken up paragliding in her 60s, in her favourite holiday resort of Paphos, Greece. She wrote: "My Dear Patricia. Here we all are back at the treadmill this grey Monday morning, with news of ‘insider dealings’ surrounding Number 10 and the antics of that speaker woman paragliding over Paphos! Don’t you just get fed up? I do!"‌In another letter, she thanked her for hosting a wonderful dinner party. She wrote: "It was a great show, super company and food, superbly executed leaving nothing to chance. You were so thoughtful and generous - very many thanks for a happy and glorious evening. Fun and sunshine are always in your heart dear Pat, so keep it flourishing. Love from Betty."In other correspondence, dated February 9, 1998, Baroness Boothroyd accepted an invitation to see Show Boat in the West End - also offering her pal help finding a London flat and warning against them becoming party girls in retirement.Baroness Boothroyd wrote: "Don’t become a club lady for London overnight. I thought of it seriously for when I pack this lot up, but it’s not for us." Of Dame Patricia’s flat hunt, she added: "Ever thought of the street flats in Pimlico? “Owned by the Duke of Westminster? Nice accommodation, reasonable rents, quality old fashioned punters - good security.‌"All their top security bods are there. I’ve marked this Duke’s card for the future for myself. It’s worth thinking about - unless, of course, you want to buy."Another prized item up for grabs at the three day auction in Routledge's hometown of Chichester, starting on July 29, is a letter sent to the actress by former Prime Minister Theresa May, confiding her fears over Britain leaving the European Union.Written on September 26, 2019, from her own Commons private office, the ex Conservative PM wrote: "Thank you so much for your card and kind words. It was very thoughtful of you to write to me and I do appreciate it. We live in uncertain political times. I do hope it will be possible to get a deal that Parliament can agree to, so we can leave the EU with a deal."‌Meanwhile, close to Baroness Boothroyd, the first female Speaker in the House of Commons, until her death, aged 93, in February 2024, Dame Patricia sang Climb Ev'ry Mountain from The Sound of Music at her funeral at St George's Church in Thriplow, Cambridgeshire, and read at her memorial at Westminster Abbey.Dame Patricia, who never married and did not have children, played Hyacinth Bucket, which she pronounced B-o-u-q-u-e-t, for five years, from 1990. Production ended in 1995 when she decided to step away to pursue other theatre and television projects, such as Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, for Channel 4.She won many awards, including an Olivier Award for her role as the Old Lady in Leonard Bernstein's operetta Candide in 1988, and a Tony Award for her part as Alice Challice in Broadway musical Darling of the Day in 1968. The auction of her estate is being handled by Stride & Son Auctioneers and Valuers of Chichester, the West Sussex cathedral city where she lived for 25 years, up until her death.‌Relocating to Winchester in 2000, Dame Patricia was a pillar of the local community and maintained a five-decade association with the Chichester Festival Theatre. She was also a devoted supporter of Chichester Cathedral, where her funeral service was held.A spokesman for Stride & Son Auctions said: "We are proud to be hosting this auction, which also includes a wide variety of items - from books, inscribed personally by the likes of Alan Bennett; a musical score, inscribed by Leonard Bernstein; signed photographs; scripts; press cuttings; and playbills; as well as many more personally significant items, such as jewellery, clothing and other personal effects."We are anticipating a lot of international interest. In addition to being a national treasure, she was also tremendously popular and well respected overseas. She was still regularly receiving fan mail from all over the world.”*The Dame Patricia Routledge auction takes place from July 29. For details visit www.stridesauctions.co.uk The proceeds are being split between various charities.‌