Never-before-seen photos of Edward VIII and George VI at Sandringham revealed 117 years later 

Never-before-seen photos of Edward VIII, aged 11, and George VI, aged 9, have been unearthed 117 years later.

The rare snapshots, never before seen by the public, show the brothers playing a variety of sports at the royal country retreat of Sandringham, Norfolk, between 1904 and 1906.

The charming images and archive of letters belonged to Dr. Frederick Jackson, who was a physician at the residence, and were passed down through the family.

They will fetch a whopping £2,500 at auction in London later this month.

About a dozen images make up the collection, showing the brothers trying their hand at golf, fishing, skating and shooting.

Prince Edward, then 11 years old, wears a kilt as he takes a wave swing in one photo.

And in another, his nine-year-old brother Prince Albert (who later became known as George VI) holds up a fish he caught. There is also an image of Edward captaining the Sandringham village football team.

Prince Albert (who later became known as the later George VI) holds up a fish he caught, aged nine

Pictured from left to right: Prince George, aged nine, and Princess Mary, aged eight, next to Prince Edward, aged eleven, holding hands and skating

Pictured from left to right: Prince George, aged nine, and Princess Mary, aged eight, next to Prince Edward, aged eleven, holding hands and skating

King George V, left, on a shooting tour.  Charming never-before-seen childhood photos of Edward VIII and George VI playing different sports have been unearthed

King George V, left, on a shooting tour. Charming never-before-seen childhood photos of Edward VIII and George VI playing different sports have been unearthed

Pictured: Prince Henry, George and Edward's younger brother, on a pony.  The collection is tipped to raise £2,500 when it sells

Pictured: Prince Henry, George and Edward’s younger brother, on a pony. The collection is tipped to raise £2,500 when it sells

King George V pictured on a shooting tour.  The auction house has spoken out about how lucky they were to receive the photos

King George V pictured on a shooting tour. The auction house has spoken out about how lucky they were to receive the photos

Another heartwarming image shows the brothers and their sister Princess Mary skating hand in hand on the ice, while in a separate photo the princes fish together.

The collection of 18 photographs, which also features Edward VII with a shotgun, George V and Queen Mary, belonged to Dr. Frederick Jackson, who was the attending physician at Sandringham.

In the years he worked there, he built up a close relationship with the young princes who sent him sweet letters and postcards.

The young Royals clearly loved Dr. Jackson, in particular Princes Albert and Edward, and he became a fun and trusted companion both on the golf course and on the shooting range.

A lovely letter that Dr. Jackson kept is a letter of thanks from George for a set of golf balls he bought him.

The young prince then wrote: ‘Thank you for the nice box of golf balls. I wish you could come down and play a round of golf.”

Dr. Jackson also talked about his special relationship with the princes in a letter to his mother, which is on file.

He writes: ‘I am going to have tea with the children of York Cottage.

“Sent him a box of golf balls…the doctor has never been lucky enough to get an invite

‘After the first ride the Prince of Wales came up to me and shook my hand.

“I walked with him for about 15 minutes and talked about shooting, golf, etc.

“The shooting was A1, over 2,000 pheasants.”

The collection is tipped to raise £2,500 when sold by Dr. Jackson’s descendants with London-based auctioneers Bonhams.

And the auction house has spoken out about how happy they are to receive the photos, which have been in the family all along.

Prince George and Prince Edward pose together for a moment during a fishing trip.  The sale of the photo collection will take place on 29 March

Prince George and Prince Edward pose together for a moment during a fishing trip. The sale of the photo collection will take place on 29 March

Dr.  Jackson trained at Guy's Hospital and worked in a field hospital on the Western Front during World War I

Dr. Jackson trained at Guy’s Hospital and worked in a field hospital on the Western Front during World War I

Albert's letter dated December 14, 1906, in which Dr.  Jackon thanks for the 'box of electric golf balls'

Albert’s letter dated December 14, 1906, in which Dr. Jackon thanks for the ‘box of electric golf balls’

Matthew Haley, specialist at Bonhams, said: “Dr. Frederick Jackson acted as physician to the royal family at Sandringham in the early years of the 20th century.

‘The young Royals clearly adored him, especially Princes Albert and Edward, and he became a trusted companion on both the golf course and the firing field.

“Dr. Jackson had children of his own who might have been the same age as the young princes, so he knew how to talk to them.

‘Edward and George were both very sporty and rural Norfolk was the ideal place to spend a lot of time outdoors.

“Their relationship has drawn parallels to today’s Princes William and Harry, and there’s an enduring fascination with the Royals, reinforced by TV shows like The Crown.”

Dr. Jackson trained at Guy’s Hospital and worked in a field hospital on the Western Front during World War I.

Prince Edward, then 11 years old, wears a kilt as he hits a wave.  Dr.  Jackson also talked about his special relationship with the princes in a letter to his mother, which is on file

Prince Edward, then 11 years old, wears a kilt as he hits a wave. Dr. Jackson also talked about his special relationship with the princes in a letter to his mother, which is on file

Prince Edward captained the Sandringham Village football team.  He was also head of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews for 15 years

Prince Edward captained the Sandringham Village football team. He was also head of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews for 15 years

Tragically, he died in 1942 at the age of 69.

Edward VIII became king upon the death of his father, George V.

However, after reigning for less than a year, Edward VIII became the first English monarch to voluntarily abdicate the throne.

He chose to do so after the British government, the public and the Church of England condemned his decision to marry American divorcee Wallis Warfield Simpson.

Edward VIII also captained the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews for 15 years.

After his abdication, he was succeeded by his younger brother, George VI, father of the late Queen.

A gifted sportsman, he remained a golf fan for the rest of his life and played doubles tennis at Wimbledon in 1926.

The sale of the photo collection will take place on March 29 at Bonhams Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers in Knightsbridge.