Majestic collection
Truro man continues to add to collection of royal items
Al McNutt admits he’s obsessed with royalty.
“I don’t know why it fascinates me so much,” he said. “I’ve always been interested in history and I look at the connections between all the royal families of Europe. They can trace their families back so far and they’ve been the custodians of so much history and so many artifacts. It’s quite amazing.”
Like many people, he was impressed with Princess Diana.
“She put a human face on the family,” he said. “You can see her influence in her children. They’re hands-on and changing the monarchy.
“She was also one of the first people of her stature to visit people in AIDS hospices and that, as a person living with HIV/AIDS, means a lot to me. Diana did a lot of good. She made people think more about a lot of things, and she’s not alone. There are other members of royal families doing a lot to help others.
“When she died I cried. I couldn’t believe that had happened and now it’s hard to believe it was 20 years ago.”
He is impressed with the way William and Harry have talked about mental health and the impact their mother’s death has had on them.
“They’re shining stars in keeping her legacy alive,” he said.
McNutt has books, pictures, figurines, dishes and even a Diana doll in a wedding gown – and he receives the newest issue of ‘Majesty’ magazine each month. His collection doesn’t have a lot of monetary value but it does hold a lot of value to him.
He has visited palaces in the UK and attended a Royal Garden Party (as a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award) and is thrilled that he was able to stand just a few feet away from the Queen.
“I like the institution of the monarchy and what they do, and I hope it will continue,” he added.
“Really, I’m obsessed and I don’t know where the obsession comes from.”