Pilot’s royal items promote for £10k at public sale in Kent

A set of royal items given to an RAF pilot who repatriated the physique of the Duke of Windsor has offered for greater than £10,000 at public sale.

It included a pair of gold cufflinks, introduced by Queen Elizabeth II to former Sqn Ldr Denis Lowery, offered for greater than 4 occasions its information worth/

Sqn Ldr Lowery’s profession highlights additionally included transporting Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and Princess Anne on their 1972 tour of South East Asia.

Charles Hanson, of Hansons Auctioneers’ saleroom in Penshurst, Kent, mentioned: “Bids flew in from around the UK and the world, including Oman and New York.”

He added: “Each of the items paid homage to a truly wonderful pilot and squadron leader with a truly international career.”

The top-seller was a Middle Eastern-style 21ct gold necklace stamped with a khanjar, the nationwide emblem of Oman, which offered for £3,100.

It was a gift from the Sultan of Oman to Sqn Ldr Lowery in 1974.

A Breitling Navitimer watch, one other present from the sultan, offered for £1,050.

The gold cufflinks offered for £1,700 – greater than 4 occasions its information worth of £400.

The assortment, which had been anticipated to promote for between £5,500 and £9,000, offered for a complete of £10,600.

In 1972, Sqn Ldr Lowery flew the physique of Edward VIII to RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, three days after the Duke of Windsor died of throat most cancers at his Paris residence.

Other people who the pilot flew included the Shah of Iran, Ken Dodd, King Carlos of Spain, Betty Ford and Edward Heath.

He joined the RAF in 1947, primarily based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, and was chargeable for conducting VVIP (Very, Very Important Person) together with the royal household, authorities ministers and the prime minister.

After retiring, he moved again to Lechlade-on-Thame, in Gloucestershire, after which to Shipton beneath Wychwood in Oxfordshire.

Sqn Ldr Lowery died in 2012.