COLLECTION OF DOLLS FIT FOR A PRINCESS

The young Elizabeth was dubbed ‘the world’s best known baby’ and she was inundated with toys by an adoring public. During their 1927 tour of Australia and New Zealand, her parents were given an astonishing three tons of gifts for the princess. So as not to spoil her, her nanny Clara Knight laid down a one-toy-at-a-time rule. At first it was her white wickerwork doll’s pram that she was most fond of, pushing it around the garden of the family’s London home, 145 Piccadilly (inset left). She had a total of 150 dolls and in 1935 she and Margaret were given two made by the French company Raynal, which are still in the Royal Collection (above far left). They have articulated limbs and fleshtoned felt skins, and wear miniature versions of Lanvin dresses. The red doll called Pamela (above), made about the same time, wears clothes by Sloane Street store Smith & Co.