Heartwarming childhood letter from 5-year-old King Charles reveals affection for his ‘Dear Papa’

Letter writing may seem like a lost art in the age of modern technology, a quaint tradition from a bygone era. Yet, the British Royal Family remains devoted to the craft, and recent discoveries of their letters have unveiled fascinating insights into their thoughts and relationships.

That is why a tender letter written by King Charles as a five-year-old has caused a stir and shown a different side to his relationship with his “Dear Papa.”

The then Prince Charles and his sister, three-year-old Princess Anne, were home while Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II were away on a royal tour of Australia in 1954.

Written in childish block letters, the heartfelt message was written by a young prince who longed to see his father, who had been away for 58 days at that point.

The message, written on Buckingham Palace letterhead paper provides a unique insight into the relationship between the Duke of Edinburgh and King Charles as it has been known the father and son had a tense relationship at times.

“Dear Papa, I am longing to see you in the ship. Love Charles.”

The letter came to light after it was put up for sale through International Autograph Auctions Europe with an asking price of £7,000 ($13,668).

Auctioneer Richard David said it was extraordinary that a letter written by a British monarch when they were so young would come up for sale.

“The only other similar example that I have offered previously was a letter written by Queen Victoria at the age of seven,” he told The Mirror.

“The letter is particularly charming as it demonstrates how much the future King was missing his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, and, as has been well documented, Charles and Prince Philip did not always enjoy the warmest and closest of family relationships.

“The letter does at least show that in his early years Prince Charles did hold his father in affectionate regard, and he closes with a series of circles and crosses drawn beneath his signature, representing hugs and kisses.”

It also reveals how sensitive the King has been his whole life and the affection he has displayed to those close to him.

Recently another letter written by the King demonstrated how he used his own grief to help others and revealed his state of mind in the aftermath of his former wife’s death.

The hand-written letter, addressed to Peter Houghton, gives an insight into the then Prince of Wales’ anguish as he describes the “bewilderment and confusion that accompanies the removal of someone so young from the world.”

Diana was just 36 years old when she died in a car accident in Paris in 1997. At the time of her death, Charles and Diana’s sons, William and Harry, were just 15 and 12 respectively.

Houghton was also mourning a loved one and Charles wrote that his heart “bleeds” for him following the death of “dear Liz”.

The Monarch tried to console Houghton, relating to the “agony” he was feeling while explaining that he “longed to wave a magic wand to transform the situation.”