Antiques Roadshow guest speechless as royal items valued at eye-watering price

21 May 2023 , 20:08

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A guest was blown away to discover her items, originally purchased for £4,200 and £9,000 were now worth over a combined sum of £50,000 (Image: BBC)

Antiques Roadshow is no stranger to leaving guests blown away and their latest guest was no different as she unveiled a series of items linked to the late Princess Margaret.

During Sunday night's episode of the latest series, one guest attended the fair held at Belmont House in Kent with belongings her grandmother had purchased.

Famous action house Christies auctioned off a series of items belonging to the late Countess of Snowdon in 2006, four years after she passed away after suffering another stroke before suffering from cardiac problems.

Items sold off included jewellery as well as other personal items including a pill box.

A guest appeared on Antiques Roadshow with two items belonging to the late Princess Margaret (BBC)

Antiques expert John Benjamin revealed that he had attended the original auction, describing it as "a staggering auction with wonderful items."

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The female guest stated that her gran had attended the auction in person as well as travelling to the likes of New York and Singapore to purchase the "most beautiful things".

"To be able to see these is incredibly special," she said before continuing: "To know and think what Princess Margaret would have used them for as well."

The items included a pillbox and another storage container belonging to the late Princess (BBC)

The guest presented a small golden pill box owned by the late Princess, which was created by Cartier who engraved the tiny box.

A certificate of authenticity, signed by Margaret's son, Lord Snowdon, then Viscount Linley also confirmed that the items were owned by the late Queen's only sibling.

Purchased in 2006, the item which was engraved with Princess Margaret's personal monogram sold for an eyewatering £4,200.

The items were auctioned four years after the late Princess passed away (Popperfoto via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, a second item, a larger box which the guest joked could have stored snuff was made out of kimberlite, a volcanic rock.

The item was inscribed with "Presented to Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret, by De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited, 18th April 1947.

"Talk about provenance, really," exclaimed John, before continuing: "Inscribed for Princess Margaret herself.

"Right, now I've done a bit of homework to establish what was paid for them in the auction in 2006."

While focusing on the egg-shaped pill box, John explained: "This little Cartier box, pill box, whatever you want to call it, sold at the auction for £4,200.

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"This box here, this rather heavy box, that sold for £9,000, so it begs the question, what are they worth today?"

But nothing could have prepared the guest for what she was about to hear.

John added: "I'm going to give you a very broad estimate of value, I think that the gold egg - £4,200 in 2006, I'm going to say between £10,000 - £20,000 today," leaving the audience gasping.

"The box, it sold for £9,000 then," he said before continuing: "£20 - £40,000 today, I think these are absolutely fabulous, thank you."

Daniel Bird