Props, Lots & Sparkly Things

Headed to London today to see the Bonhams exhibition of The Crown Auction in New Bond Street.

Amazing collection of props, costumes and sets which will go to auction next week with all proceeds going towards Left Bank Pictures Scholarship programme for the next generation of film and television makers.

I had a lovely day out with my locations chum V who has her eye on the Balmoral BBQ Lot while I’m hankering over the Princess Margaret purple coronation robe!

One of the props I always love to see on a set (or on screen) is a handwritten note. I was particularly thrilled to see a prop letter written by Charles Dance which he reads in his last scene as Lord Mountbatten in Season 4 Ep 1.

The opening sentence reads “There exists no greater compliment than to be called ‘a prince among men’. Such a person earns his title with his ability to lead and inspire.” Such beautiful writing. I wonder if these words were written for the script or based on real life correspondence between Lord Mountbatten and the young Prince Charles.

Highly recommend a visit to the free exhibition which runs until Monday 5th February. So glad we made the impromptu trip.

After the exhibition we walked to Piccadilly to visit Fortnums tea dept. We then found a cheese shop and tasted some delicious ‘Mayfield Swiss’ before peering in the windows of various old jewellers along Burlington Arcade dreaming of sparkly things. A lovely day.