Exclusive King’s Birthday Fundraising Auction

Exclusive King’s Birthday Fundraising Auction 2025

To mark the 77th birthday of His Majesty King Charles III, King of Australia on 14 November, the AML is proud to present an auction of historic royal artefacts & memorabilia exclusively to Members & supporters. This special fundraising auction will help the AML continue its vital defence of the Crown & our system of constitutional monarchy.

Highlights include impressive signed portraits of Anne, The Princess Royal & Sir Winston Churchill; an exquisite Fabergé cigarette case; mementoes of King George VI’s Coronation in 1937; & a range of tempting royal memorabilia across all price points.

The Auction opens on Friday 24 October 2025 & closes on Thursday 13 November 2025. Please ensure that enquiries & bids are submitted by 5:00pm AEDT on Thursday 13 November to:  [email protected]. Remember, this auction is to raise vital funds to help the AML continue its work, so please dig deep and bid generously!

Item 1: Signed portrait of HRH The Princess Royal, 1999, by Ian Coates

Signed “Anne 1999” by the Princess on the mount, this royal presentation portrait of The Princess Royal, only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Philip, was taken at Buckingham Palace in 1998 by Ian Coates. A Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society & the British Institute of Professional Photography, Ian Coates photographed many members of the royal family, Heads of State & other luminaries over the course of his career. Framed in a gilt frame & glazed, with applied Ian Coates Studios label & date stamp to the reverse. Dimensions: 60cm x 50cm overall. Condition: Fine. An impressive piece. Current bid: $600.

Item 2: Bust of Princess Anne by Royal Doulton

Made in England by Royal Doulton, this fine black basalt bust of HRH The Princess Anne was produced to mark the occasion of her wedding to Captain Mark Phillips of The Queen's Dragoon Guards on 14 November 1973. Issued in a limited edition of 750, this portrait bust of the hardest-working member of the royal family would grace the home of any monarchist. Condition: Very Good. Height: 29.5 cm. Bidding Starts at $50.

Item 3: Rare signed portrait of Winston Churchill, inscribed “Your affectionate friend Winston S. Churchill”

2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, during which the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill (1874-1965), proved an inspiring leader and steadfast symbol of resistance against the forces of tyranny. Churchill’s wartime contribution & his mastery of the English language continue to inspire today.

1. Egerton Cooper (1883-1974) was one of the most accomplished traditional portraitists of his generation, best known for his famous “Profile for Victory” portrait of Churchill, painted from life in 1943.

Cooper painted the portrait after a photograph taken at 10 Downing Street in 1951. Cooper reinterpreted the scene, placing Churchill in a quintessentially English landscape.

The original painting hangs at Lloyds of London; this black-and-white photograph of it was made by the art photographer Paul Laib. It is signed by Cooper and dated 1958. In original gold frame with strut back, this rare and historic portrait is perfect for display on a desk or bookcase.

Provenance: private collection, London; original recipient unknown. Condition: minor silvering to photograph; otherwise, Fine. Dimensions: 27cm x 21.5cm overall. Current bid: $5155.50.

Additional photos: detail of inscription in Churchill’s hand and Paul Laib studio stamp to the reverse

Item 4: Cigarette case by Carl Fabergé

This elegant silver cigarette case was made by Fabergé’s Moscow branch between 1896 & 1908. Of rectangular form, it features linear reed decoration, a gold-mounted cabochon sapphire push-piece & a gilded interior. It is marked within on each side K. Fabergé (in Cyrillic) & with the Moscow / 84 zolotnik mark (indicating the silver is 91.66% pure).

Lauded as the greatest goldsmith of the 20th century, Peter Carl Fabergé is famed for the exquisite craftsmanship, beauty & sophistication of his work. In 1885, he was appointed goldsmith to Tsar Alexander III of Russia, producing a series of fifty Imperial Easter eggs for the Emperor & his son Tsar Nicholas II for which he became renowned. The largest historical collection of Fabergé’s work is held by King Charles III; the first British sovereign of direct Romanov descent.

Suitable for holding business cards or cigarettes alike, this case would impress any connoisseur of objets de vertu, being of the finest possible quality & made by a great maker.

Provenance: Sotheby's Belgravia, Lot 86, 22 April 1976; thence in a private collection. Weight: 162gm. Dimensions: 9.5cm x 7.5cm x 0.8cm. Condition: Very Good. Bidding Starts at $3000.

Additional photos: detail of the hallmarks, interior & sapphire push-piece of the Fabergé case.

Item 5: George VI Coronation whisky flask by Royal Doulton, 1937

Made by one of England’s finest porcelain manufactories, this Dewar’s Whisky flask commemorates the Coronation of King George VI & Queen Elizabeth in May 1937. The flask (now empty) was ordered from Doulton by John Dewar & Sons Ltd, the Scotch Whisky distillery. It takes the form of a Tudor heraldic crown - a symbol of royal authority – decorated with a jewelled band & a gallery of four fleur-de-lis & four crosses pattée from which emerge two jewelled arches. The spout is decorated with a monde & cross with the handle resembling a bough of laurel; the cork stopper features a Tudor crown. The base bears printed Royal Doulton & ‘Dewar's Whisky’ marks. Height: 18 cm. Condition: Very Fine. Current bid: $120 Additional photo: Royal Doulton and Dewar’s Whiskey marks to the base of the flask

Item 6: George VI Coronation commemorative bust

This bust of King George VI was made to commemorate his Coronation in 1937. The King is depicted wearing full naval dress uniform with medals & decorations. ‘Coronation / May 12, 1937’ is inscribed to the base of the gold-painted plaster effigy which rests upon a dark brown glazed ceramic plinth. Height: 23.5cm. Condition: Very Good. Bidding starts at $60.

 
Item 7: King Henry VIII character tankard by Shorter & Son Ltd

Made circa 1950 by Shorter & Son Ltd in Stoke-On-Trent, this humorous & charming character tankard features the Holbein-esque visage of King Henry VIII enthroned on St Edward’s Chair, clutching a goblet & dagger. The larger, scarcer version of Shorter’s well-known collectable. Height: 22.5cm. Condition: Fine. Current bid: $255.

Item 9: Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Royal Doulton limited edition figure

This fine bone-china figure of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was made by Royal Doulton to commemorate her 80th birthday in 1980. The beloved Queen Mother was modelled with a serene expression on her face; her left hand raised in a friendly wave. She wears an elegant pink evening gown, tiara, jewels & royal orders. No. 1132 from a limited edition of 1500 (Royal Doulton 2882), the figure comes in the original fitted silk-lined presentation box with wooden display plinth & Certificate of Authenticity. Condition: Very Fine. Dimensions of figure: 20cm x 11.5cm. An elegant & rare collectible with a guide price of $1000, the Current bid $500

 Item 9: Model of The Gold State Coach

Built in 1762 at the beginning of the reign of George III, the Gold State Coach has been used at every Coronation since that of William IV in 1831. This die-cast model of the Coach, complete with eight horses & four riders, was made by Crescent Toy Co. to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 1977. Condition: Very Good. Dimensions: 31cm x 5cm. Current bid: $165.50

Auction Terms:

Bidding

The Auction opens on Friday 24 October 2025 & closes at 5pm AEDT on Thursday 13 November 2025.

If you are outbid before the auction ends, you will be notified so that you may increase your bids if you so choose.

Please ensure that your bids are submitted by 5pm AEDT on Thursday 13 November 2025 to: [email protected]

Bids cannot be accepted after the Auction closes. Payment instructions will be provided once the Auction closes and shipping costs have been calculated. Once payment has been received, purchases will be shipped. Payment must be made within two weeks of the end of the Auction, otherwise you will forfeit your Item(s).

Shipping

Shipping is at the buyer's expense, & will be calculated once bidding closes. Postage can also be calculated upon request before the end of the auction to [email protected] once bids have been submitted.

Items will be sent via Australia Post Express Post, Insured with Tracking & Signed-for on delivery. All Lots can be collected free of charge from Canberra, ACT.