“One of Queen Victoria’s grandsons wrote asking her for money. She replied – not enclosing any money but warning against the consequences of forming extravagant habits in early youth. Whereupon he replied ‘Dearest Grandma – I received your letter and hope you do not think that I was disappointed because you could not send me the money. It was very kind of you to give me the good advice, and I sold your letter for forty pounds, ten shillings.'”

(Reminiscences by Sir Henry Luey)

John Lentell

14th July, 1970