LONDON— Letters handwritten by the late Princess Diana, including one describing how her son Prince Harry was "constantly in trouble", sold for 15,100 pounds (US$18,600) at a London auction on Thursday.

Among the six letters sent to royal butler Cyril Dickman in the 1980s and 1990s was a note describing how her eldest son Prince William showered Harry with "an endless supply of hugs and kisses" when he was a newborn.

The notes, described as "the private letters between a trusted butler and the royal family", went on sale at Cheffins auction house in central London.

In a letter written five days after Harry’s 1984 birth, Diana wrote it was a "particularly happy time".

"William adores his little brother and spends the entire time swamping Harry with an endless supply of hugs and kisses, hardly letting the parents near!" she wrote.

Diana, who died in a car crash in Paris in 1997, told Dickman of Harry’s discipline problems ahead of a 1992 trip to Asia.

"The boys are well and enjoying boarding school a lot, although Harry is constantly in trouble!" she wrote.

"We are off to Korea in November for a visit so a good place to do the Christmas shopping!"

The complete collection of 40 lots, including Christmas cards, a piece of cake from the Queen Elizabeth II’s 1947 wedding and a note sent from the queen, achieved 55,000 pounds (US$68,000) in total.

Dickman was a much-respected figure in Buckingham Palace before his retirement in 1992, and is credited with helping Diana deal with the death of her father in the same year.

On his retirement, the princess wrote: "Cyril, you will be greatly missed by this particular Lady -- thank you from the bottom of my heart for being so kind to me throughout the years and take great care of yourself, fondest love from Diana x."

Dickman died in 2012, aged 85.—AFP