Mementoes of the Queen’s war: Her Majesty’s driving permit and photos of her working as a mechanic go up for auction alongside a 1950s petticoat

• A pink petticoat belonging to Queen Elizabeth will be up for auction next week 
• Black and white snaps from her time in the ATS are also part of an archive
• The items will feature at Reeman Dansie in Colchseter on November 8 and 9

Rare items belonging to the late Queen Elizabeth II will be up for auction next week, including a 1950s satin petticoat and candid photos of the royal as a wartime mechanic, which could not be sold in her lifetime.

The black and white snaps form part of an archive that also includes the monarch’s War Department provisional driving licence for her job in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS).

The items, showing a seldom-seen side to Her Majesty, come following her death seven weeks ago and will see auctioneer Reeman Dansie’s first royal sale since the passing.

The Queen’s pink, lacey undergarments are expected to reach at least £1,500, meanwhile the military era mementos are set to fetch up to £2,000.

Rare items belonging to the late Queen Elizabeth II will be up for auction next week, including candid photos of the royal as a wartime mechanic (pictured in the Auxiliary Territorial Service)

The black and white snaps form part of an archive that also includes the monarch’s War Department provisional driving licence for her job in the ATS

The rare petticoat, which has a fine handmade lacework top, was made for Her Majesty and has crowned ER ciphers on the fringe

It was bought at a charity garden party at Euston Hall in Suffolk, the seat of The Duke and Duchess of Grafton

The rare petticoat, which has a fine handmade lacework top, was made for Her Majesty and has crowned ER ciphers on the fringe.

It was bought at a charity garden party at Euston Hall in Suffolk, the seat of The Duke and Duchess of Grafton; with the latter having been the Lady of the Bedchamber to the Queen, who attended her at the Coronation.

She told the buyer the petticoat was given to her by the royal after she was finished with it.

Meanwhile other lots in the Royalty, Fine Arts and Antiques sale at Reeman Dansie in Colchseter on November 8 and 9 include the late Queen’s rare military provisional driving license.

The King appointed Miss Wellesley, as a senior instructor, to teach Princess Elizabeth to drive when the royal joined up in 1945 (pictured)

Major Welleseley (pictured) served in the First World War as a despatch rider and went on to become a driving instructor in the Women’s Royal Auxillary Corps (Territorial Army) during the Second World War

Other images show a visit to the ATS training centre at Camberley, Surrey, by her parents, King George VI, and the Queen Mother (pictured)

The ‘unique’ document was given to her when she was Princess Elizabeth and serving in the ATS.

It comes with a handwritten account of her service and photos from her driving instructor in the ATS, the late Major Violet Wellesley.

The War Department Driving Permit No B1232 is named to HRH Princess Elizabeth and describes that she has blue eyes, is 5ft 4 and has light brown hair. It is dated March 1. 1945 and signed ‘Elizabeth’ by the Princess in ink.

Major Welleseley served in the First World War as a despatch rider and went on to become a driving instructor in the Women’s Royal Auxillary Corps (Territorial Army) during the Second World War.

Accompanying the photos is an account by Miss Wellesley that she was asked to give to the Royal biographer Sir John Wheeler-Bennett in 1959 (pictured) 

It comes with a handwritten account of her service and photos from her driving instructor in the ATS, the late Major Violet Wellesley (pictured)

The King appointed her, as a senior instructor, to teach Princess Elizabeth to drive when the royal joined up in 1945.

Before her death in 1971, Miss Wellesley gave strict instructions for the documents not to be sold off until after the Queen had passed because she didn’t want to offend Her Majesty.

Following Queen Elizabeth II’s death in September, the archive has been consigned for auction by the daughter of the close companion Miss Wellesley had left it to.

It is made up of seven black and white photos of a 19-year-old Elizabeth wearing her ATS mechanic’s uniform.

Pictured: Princess Margaret and the King look on as the then Princess Elizabeth works on the engine of a military vehicle. 

There are three group shots of her with other ATS girls, two of her under the bonnet of an army truck and another of her at the wheel of a military vehicle.

Other images show a visit to the ATS training centre at Camberley, Surrey, by her parents, King George VI, and the Queen Mother.

Accompanying the photos is an account by Miss Wellesley that she was asked to give to the Royal biographer Sir John Wheeler-Bennett in 1959.

In it she gave her found recollections of mentoring the future Queen. Miss Wellesley praised Princess Elizabeth for her work ethic and for getting ‘thoroughly dirty’ in the role. 

Pictured: The then Princess Elizabeth hard at work on the engine of a military vehicle. Before her death in 1971, Miss Wellesley gave strict instructions for the documents not to be sold off until after the Queen had passed as she didn’t want to offend Her Majesty

The future Queen pictured with her ATS colleagues. Miss Wellesley had praised Princess Elizabeth’s driving as ‘outstanding’ for a beginner

The photographs and documents are being sold by auctioneers Reeman Dansie of Colchester, Essex, for £2,000

‘She insisted on being treated as an ordinary ATS subaltern and of receiving no favours whatsoever,’ she wrote. ‘I remember what a lot of enjoyment she got out of being behind the scenes for a change when the King and Queen inspected our training centre.’

Miss Wellesley also praised Princess Elizabeth’s driving as ‘outstanding’ for a beginner.

The archive includes a letter sent from Buckingham Palace to Miss Wellesley thanking her for sending birthday wishes to Elizabeth on her 23rd birthday in 1949.

The photographs and documents are being sold by auctioneers Reeman Dansie of Colchester, Essex, for £2,000.

The Queen Mother pictured watching on as the then Princess Elizabeth practices her stretcher drill

Rarely-seen photos of the Queen in her role as a wartime mechanic have come to light nearly 80 years later

The archive includes a letter sent from Buckingham Palace to Miss Wellesley thanking her for sending birthday wishes to Elizabeth on her 23rd birthday in 1949 (left). Pictured right, a letter from the Palace thanking Major Violet Wellesley for her memories of serving with Princess Elizabeth

James Grinter, of Reeman Dansie, has said he expects ‘a lot of interest’ ahead of the auction.

‘Miss Wellesely kept this fascinating archive of relating to the Queen’s service in the ATS was kept and treasured by her for the rest of her life,’ he said. ‘She was so concerned for it that she left it to a close companion on the understanding it should not be sold until after the Queen had died as she didn’t want her to think ill of her.

‘Now sadly, that has happened and the archive has been put up for sale by the daughter of the companion.’

He said the most interesting items is the ‘unique’ driving permit. 

James added that while photos of the visit to Camberley by the King and Queen appear to be taken by an official royal photographer, ‘many of the others were taken by people in the ATS and are rare’.

‘Miss Wellesley’s account of the Queen’s service in the ATS is quite charming and shows how hard she worked at it,’ he continued. ‘This is the first royal sale we have had since the Queen’s death. I would imagine there will be a lot of interest.’

The sale takes place on November 8.

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