Proceeds from Sale of Belongings of Former Speaker to Benefit Six Charities

The estate of the late Baroness Betty Boothroyd, the first female Speaker of the House of Commons, will be auctioned off, with the proceeds benefitting six charitable organisations. The auction is expected to raise around £200,000, featuring a variety of personal items including a large certificated diamond ring, her frog collection, photographs, and a resin bust of Lady Boothroyd by Frances Segelman.

A key highlight is the diamond solitaire ring, valued between £70,000 and £100,000. It was bought from Lady Boothroyd’s favourite jeweller, J McCarthy Ltd, who was instructed by her to find a diamond of a specific size. When a much larger diamond arrived, the jeweller was instructed to bring it to her at “The House.” Her response to the larger size was simple: “A diamond can never be too large!”

Other jewellery featured in the sale includes diamond-encrusted cuff earrings by Oscar Heyman (estimated at £4,000 to £6,000), an Omega De Ville wristwatch (estimated at £2,000 to £3,000), and a House of Commons brooch set with gold and diamonds (estimated £1,000 to £2,000).

In addition, various items from her career will be up for grabs, such as framed photographs with Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela (estimated between £20 and £60), as well as memorabilia from her time in Parliament, including a black leather dispatch box and a House of Commons whisky tumbler set (each estimated at £200 to £300).

The auction also includes a range of her clothes, such as political outfits and ball gowns, with estimates ranging from £40 to £300. Highlights include a red, white, and blue cocktail suit worn to a 1997 Lord Lloyd Webber house party.

Thomas Forrester from Special Auction Services, which will host the sale, described Lady Boothroyd as “an engaging, entertaining and human politician” whose items reflect her “remarkable life.” The auction will also feature a JFK-signed programme from his inauguration, a travelling trunk from her time with the American presidential race in the 1960s, and various other personal artefacts.

All proceeds from the auction will go to charitable causes, ensuring that Lady Boothroyd’s legacy continues to support those in need.