Royal sale doubles estimate

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The collection had been amassed by the late William Tallon, affectionately known as Backstairs Billy for his role as Page of the Backstairs.

At an auction in Colchester, Essex, it sold for the kind of money he could only have dreamed about as a relatively modestly paid royal servant.

Following a marathon bidding session that began at 10am and finished at 8.35pm, the 700 lots netted £444,634 - more than double the original estimate.

The top-priced individual item was a letter from the Queen Mother instructing Mr Tallon to pack some Dubonnet and gin, "in case it is needed". The lot, expected to make between £200 and £300, sold for £16,000 to a mystery telephone bidder.

The hand-written note from the Queen Mother advised Mr Tallon: "I think that I will take two small bottles of Dubonnet and gin with me this morning, in case it is needed."

The item owned by Tallon were sold off following his death last November. Mr Tallon joined the Royal Household in 1951, aged 15, and over the following 51 years worked his way up to become the Queen Mother's Steward and the Page of the Backstairs.

James Grinter, of Reeman Dansie Auctions, said the sale had dwarfed the predicted £200,000.

"There are bidders from across the world - it's been a very well viewed sale," he said. "It's unique. You won't come across this again. You don't get as close to the Royal Family as William did."

Colchester-based solicitor Stephen Lansley, executor of the will, knew Mr Tallon for more than 20 years. "He adored the Queen Mother," he said. "It was a severe blow to him when she died, even though it was inevitable. He was also very close to Prince Charles."