Margaret, Princess, Countess of Snowdon (1930-2002)
Signed portrait photograph by Cecil Beaton
£1,512
Auction: 05 February 2025 from 10:00 GMT
Description
Gelatin silver print, 19.5 x 15cm, signed on mount in blue ink by Margaret (‘Margaret 1958’) and in pencil by Beaton (‘Beaton’), in blue leather frame by Jarrolds Knightsbridge with Margaret's gilt cypher to head, glazed
Provenance
Selected items from the estate of the late Lady Penn.
Footnote
Lady Penn's introduction to the royal household came through her husband Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Eric Penn, who was appointed assistant comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain's office in 1960 (later becoming comptroller), and whose uncle, Sir Arthur Penn, had been a member of the royal household under George VI, before serving as private secretary and treasurer to the Queen Mother. Lady Penn's obituary in the Times (28th November 2023) drew particular attention to her close relationship with Margaret: ‘While Eric Penn (later Sir) was the epitome of correctness and was punctilious about tradition, his wife lent a sparkle to the royal household; always relaxed with members of the royal family, she was respectful but never overawed, which, to them, was a great relief. Her closest friend was Princess Margaret, whose occasionally wayward behaviour she warmed to, though there were times when she felt the need to drop a word of caution in her ear. The Penns stayed often with the princess and her husband Lord Snowdon, both in Mustique and Wales, and Lady Penn became godmother to their daughter, Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones’.