Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood, a signed Christmas card 1954

The 7½ x 5½ ins folded cream card has the royal monogram of crowned M embossed in gold on the front. The greeting on the inner left side of the 1954 card is addressed To dear Mrs Strutt in Princess Mary’s hand and the facing page has a mounted 5 x 4 ins photograph of H.R.H. in her robes as Chancellor of Leeds University with her sister in law, H.M. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother who wears the robes of an honorary degree. The Princess, who was the first female university chancellor  and only the second royal one [H.R.H. Prince Philip was Chancellor of the University of Wales]. The card is signed by the Princess Royal, Mary, beneath the photograph. The page is Lord Harewood’s eight year old cousin, Richard Hamilton-Russell.    jul23/1