Queen Mother's cost-conscious letter to her dressmaker

Fascinating evidence of her frugality is revealed in a letter she hand wrote to her dressmaker, Madame Handley Seymour, in 1926, expressing concern at the high cost of her clothing bills.

It forms part of an archive belonging to the exclusive London dressmaker which is to be auctioned next month.

The letter, dated September 27, was written while the Queen Mother, then Duchess of York, stayed at Balmoral, apparently before a visit to Australia.

She wrote: "Would you be very kind and look through my bill before it is sent to me this autumn, as I thought that a few items in the last one were rather too expensive.

"I think it would be a good thing if you would do this as my clothes have cost a terrible lot lately. And I shall have to get some for Australia. Naturally I want to get them from you and it would be most helpful if you could see that they are not too dear."

The three-page letter is inviting bids of between £150 and £250.

Hampton and Littlewood auction house director Rachel Littlewood described it as fascinating.

She said: "It shows that despite their wealth she seemed to be concerned in those hard days between the World Wars that she did not want to be over extravagant when the population were struggling."

The sale, which includes ten other lots, will be held in Exeter on January 30.