In an extraordinary development for royal collectors worldwide, a piece of history has surfaced that's creating waves across the memorabilia market. A genuine lock of King Charles III's hair, clipped over six decades ago, is now available for purchase at a staggering price of £8,000 (approximately $10,000 or ₹8,30,000) through Paul Fraser Collectibles.
The Historical Hair Strand
The remarkable artifact dates back to the early 1960s when royal hairdresser George Crisp trimmed the young prince's hair during his regular visits to Buckingham Palace. What was once a routine grooming session has now transformed into what the auction house describes as "a unique artefact" and "the most intimate piece of King Charles III memorabilia in existence."
Paul Fraser, speaking exclusively to The Mirror, revealed the rarity of this offering: "We acquired it at auction in 2017. We know of no other genuine lock of Charles' hair, or even single strands, that have ever been offered for sale at auction before." The company, which bills itself as the "world's largest seller of historical or celebrity hair," emphasizes that this particular item is "impossible to recreate," marking it as the first-known sample of Charles's hair to ever reach the public market.
The Complete Collection Package
This isn't just about a strand of hair—the offering includes multiple historical items that create a comprehensive collection. Along with the precious hair lock, buyers can acquire:
- A personally written Christmas card addressed to George Crisp, likely from the early-to-mid 1960s
- Crisp's original scissors featuring a French maker's mark
- A brown plastic comb bearing the maker's mark of Kent of London (model 13T)
The company notes that while the tools cannot be definitively tied to that specific haircut, they were "almost certainly used" during Charles's grooming sessions. Notably, Kent holds the Royal Warrant for hairbrushes in the UK, adding another layer of authenticity to the collection.
Understanding the Collector's Mindset
When questioned about who purchases such unusual items, Fraser identified two primary types of buyers. "Generally, two types of people purchase our hair: Fans, people who love a particular star, such as Daniel Radcliffe, Paul McCartney, Justin Bieber, and want to feel that personal connection to them," he explained.
"Alternatively, we have people fascinated by history - men and women who are amazed when they discover they can own a piece of a world-changing historical figure - someone they've previously only read about in books. Whether that's Edward IV from the Wars of the Roses, George Washington, Napoleon, Charles Dickens, or Neil Armstrong."
This isn't the company's first encounter with unusual royal hair artifacts. Fraser recalled their most grisly item: beard hair of King Charles I, removed following the body's exhumation in 1813 after his execution in 1649. That particular piece sold for £15,000, demonstrating the significant value placed on such rare historical items.
The Royal Barber's Legacy
George Crisp, the man behind the scissors, maintained significant royal connections throughout his career. He began his service by trimming the hair and beard of King George VI and continued his duties under Queen Elizabeth II's reign. During the 1960s, Crisp would regularly walk from Trumper's barbershop in Mayfair to Buckingham Palace specifically to cut the young prince's hair, establishing a tradition that has now become a valuable piece of collectible history.
The entire collection—hair, Christmas card, comb, and scissors—is available as a complete set for £7,995 ($10,600 or approximately ₹8,80,000) on the Paul Fraser Collectibles website, offering Indian collectors and royal enthusiasts an unprecedented opportunity to own a genuine piece of British royal history.
