'Dear Layla': Pattie Boyd collection including love notes from George Harrison and Eric Clapton fetches £2.8 million

26 March 2024, 10:32 | Updated: 26 March 2024, 10:34

George Harrison: Living in the Material World documentary trailer

Pattie Boyd is selling love letters and paintings from her ex-husbands Eric Clapton and George Harrison.

It's one of the most famous love triangles in rock.

After meeting on the set of A Hard Day's Night, Pattie Boyd married Beatle George Harrison in 1966, but soon found herself the object of affection of Eric Clapton, George's good friend.

• Inside the George Harrison, Eric Clapton and Pattie Boyd love triangle
• Pattie Boyd opens up about "growing up" with former husband George Harrison
• Listen to the Gold 60s Live Playlist on Global Player, the official app of Gold

While she initially rejected Clapton's advances, after her own marriage disintegrated she and Clapton did eventually hook up and get married in 1979, two years after her divorce from George was finalised.

Clapton and Boyd divorced after a decade of marriage in 1989, but they were on good enough terms for Pattie to have got his permission to sell some love notes from him as part of a treasure trove of memorabilia she auctioned off at Christie's from March 8-22, 2024.

The lots included letters, paintings, photographs, jewellery and fashion, and the items relating to her two pop marriages certainly got the most attention. There was a public view in London from March 15-21.

The entire collection fetched a massive £2,818,184, and by far the biggest single lot was the original artwork used for the sleeve of Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, which was bought for £1,976,000 –  33 times its estimate.

Clapton had bought the painting from the son of the artist E Frandsen De Schomberg, apparently because he thought it looked like Pattie.

"When I left George and years later started seeing Eric, Eric gave this painting to George, so George had it for a long time," Pattie said of the painting, which Clapton had called Layla.

"And then when Eric and I split up, George gave it to me. So this lovely painting has done the rounds between the three of us."

"I am completely blown away by the enthusiasm of international bidders for these special treasures that I have always loved," Pattie said.

"I am so happy that new hearts will now enjoy them, as they enter into their next 'chapters'.

"I am lucky that my life today continues to bring me joy and different adventures – I would encourage people to follow their passions and live their lives with gusto."

"I've had them all for so many years – far too long," Boyd told The Daily Telegraph of the items before the auction. "I thought, why don’t I just sell everything and let everybody else enjoy it?"

Among the lots was a letter from Clapton in 1970, addressed "Dearest L", which opens "I am writing this note to you, with the main purpose of ascertaining your feelings toward a subject well known to both of us".

It goes on to ask if she still loves her husband and "if there is still a feeling in your heart for me".

Another letter written on a ripped page from John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men is addressed "Dear Layla" – Clapton was inspired by Pattie to write both 'Layla' and 'Wonderful Tonight'.

It reads: "For nothing more than the pleasures past I would sacrifice my family, my god, and my own existence… Why do you hesitate, am I a poor lover, am I ugly, am I too weak, too strong, do you know why?"

Boyd said: “The letters from Eric – they’re so desperate and passionate, a passion that blooms once in a lifetime, I think. Even now, if I were to read those letters, it makes me terribly sad."

Other lots in the auction included doodles, cards and letters from Harrison.