RARE candid childhood photographs of the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal have been snapped up by a buyer at a Swindon auction house.
The photographs were taken in 1954, as the prince and princess sailed on the newly-commissioned Royal Yacht Britannia to meet their parents, who were visiting the Middle East.
The nine black and white photographs sold for a total of £105 at Dominic Winter Book Auctions in Maxwell Street.
The expected price was between £70 and £100.
In one shot, the pair are dressed in sailor suits and building sandcastles, while another shows the prince wearing a bucket on his head and holding a spade as if it were a rifle.
It is understood that the photographs were taken by a member of the royal staff.
The auction house has also announced that the lots at a sale early in the new year will include a document archive of the Air Transport Auxiliary.
During World War Two, the ATA had the often very dangerous task of delivering new aircraft to RAF bases throughout the country.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article