Newly-released private letters written by Diana, Princess of Wales to the editor of British Vogue, Elizabeth Tilberis, reveal the “growing warmth” of their friendship, auctioneers have said.

Swann Auction Galleries said the six handwritten letters sent to Ms Tilberis between 1989 and 1992 detail the time they spent together on photo shoots and how the Vogue team made the princess feel “relaxed”.

“I feel very relaxed being with the ladies so thank you for always thinking of me,” Diana wrote in one letter dated January 23 1992.

Princess of Wales' letters go on sale in New York in March. (Swann Auction Galleries)
Letters from the Princess of Wales are to go on sale in New York (Swann Auction Galleries/PA)

In a letter from March 5 1991, Diana gets the date of her 10-year wedding anniversary wrong when discussing the media build-up to the July event.

She wrote: “Alas, I fear that there aren’t going to be any photographs released for my birthday in July – there is too much of a build-up towards the 30th & 10 years of marriage … I do feel terribly that there is far too much of this lady in the media!”

Her wedding anniversary with Prince Charles was actually on July 29.

Princess of Wales' letters go on sale in New York in March. (Swann Auction Galleries)
The letters are to go on sale in March (Swann Auction Galleries/PA)

Referring to the 1991 December issue front cover, shot by French photographer Patrick Demarchelier, Diana said: “Patrick … was a dream & I hope he will be happy with the results!”

Ms Tilberis sent Diana a framed copy of the cover, much to her delight.

“Well what can I say?!” she wrote in a letter on December 18 1991.

“Thank you very much for framing the front cover addition of your December issue!

“It will always be a reminder of a very special day with Patrick & the team!”

Diana’s letters describe her positive experiences with the Vogue team (Swann Galleries Auction/PA)

The letters will be auctioned by Swann Galleries’ Autographs Auction in New York on March 21. They are estimated to sell for around £3,800 ($5,000) to £5,700 ($7,000).

A spokesman for the auctioneers said: “The correspondence sheds light on the growing warmth and friendship between the two as they collaborate on various Vogue shoots, detailing how much Diana clearly valued time spent with Tilberis and others.”

The tone in Diana’s correspondence was extremely polite and in one letter she thanked Ms Tilberis for “trekking halfway across London to K.P. (Kensington Palace) on Friday!”

Princess of Wales' letters to Vogue editor ELizabeth Tilberis dated 1989-92. (Swann Galleries Auction)
A letter from Diana to Vogue editor Elizabeth Tilberis dated 1989 (Swann Galleries Auction/PA)

Ms Tilberis was appointed editor of Harper’s Bazaar in February 1992 and subsequently moved to the US.

Congratulating her on her new role, Diana wrote: “I felt a lot of excitement in you as you start your new life in America.

“It’s thrilling to be asked to fill such a post as ‘they’ obviously think an enormous amount of you across the waters & I know you’ll make a huge success of your new role.”

Ms Tilberis won many accolades during her time as an editor, including two National Magazine Awards for the first four issues of the magazine’s relaunch during September to December 1993.

She did not outlive Diana long, dying in 1999 aged 51 after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1993.