Pattie Boyd to auction ‘love triangle’ letters from George Harrison, Eric Clapton
George Harrison and Pattie Boyd FILE PHOTO: Beatles guitarist George Harrison honeymoons with his wife Pattie Boyd February 14, 1966 in Barbados. (Photo by Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
One part of one of the most famous musical love triangles in history is auctioning off the letters written by Eric Clapton to woo her from her husband, George Harrison.
Pattie Boyd is selling the letters from both musical legends and other possessions, BBC News reported.
Boyd was the inspiration behind Harrison’s song and The Beatles hit “Something” and Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” and “Layla.”
She appeared in the music video for “Something” alongside Harrison, Paul and Linda McCartney, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and Ringo Starr and Maureen Starkey.
Boyd had been cast in The Beatles’ “A Hard Day’s Night” at the age of 19 and connected with the “quiet” guitarist.
“He was quite shy, like me. I think that’s why we got on,” she said in a news release from Christie’s, the auction house selling the letters.
Harrison asked her to marry him at the end of the first day of filming. She said no since she was in a relationship with a photographer, but her friends persuaded her to choose Harrison.
“They all asked me if I was completely mad, saying, ‘Imagine George Harrison asking you out, you lucky thing!,’” she said.
The couple got married in 1966 after two years of dating, but the singer/songwriter was on tour most of the time, writing back to his wife. In one of the letters up for sale, Harrison wrote, “Hope you’re OK. I miss you. I’m starving - many grilled cheese sandwiches. Love you.”
Clapton also started writing Boyd letters, putting his love on paper. Clapton and Harrison had been long-time friends, Christie’s said.
Clapton wrote her in 1970, “I am writing this letter to you, with the main purpose of ascertaining your feelings towards a subject well known to both of us.” He eventually got to the point, asking, “What I wish to ask you is if you still love your husband?” adding, “All these questions are very impertinent, I know, but if there is still a feeling in your heart for me... you must let me know!”
Boyd said she thought the letter, signed “All my love, E,” was from a fan but came to find out it was from Clapton when he called her.
He then used the nickname, and eventual song title “Layla” in a future letter “If you want me, take me, I’m yours... if you don’t want me, please break the spell that binds me. To cage a wild animal is a sin, to tame him is divine. My love is yours.”
She called the subsequential song “so beautiful and so magical,” the BBC reported. But at the same time she “worried that George would work out why Eric had written this song.”
Eventually, Harrison and Boyd broke up, and few years later, Boyd and Clapton married in 1979 with The Beatles guitarist’s blessing. Harrison would call Clapton his “husband-in-law,” the BBC reported.
But Boyd and Clapton broke up due to his alcoholism and cheating, with the couple divorcing in 1989.
In addition to the letters, Boyd is also selling paintings, photographs, jewelry and clothing. Some of the items had been owned by Clapton, and she received his permission to put them on the auction block, The Telegraph reported.
“He asked if I was selling the Layla painting, and I said yes,” she said. “He said, ‘Maybe there are other things you could sell as well.’ So he’s absolutely fine with me auctioning everything.”
The sale will be online from March 8 to 21, with it on public display at Christie’s in London from March 15-22.
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years Here are some memorable photos of musician Eric Clapton through the years. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 1967: In this Aug. 20, 1967, file photo, members of the rock group Cream, from left, Jack Bruce, unidentified woman, drummer Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton, depart from Heathrow Airport in London. (AP Photo/Peter Kemp)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 1979: British rock star Eric Clapton and his bride, Pattie Boyd Harrison, leave a church after their marriage in Tucson, Arizona, on March 27, 1979. (AP Photo)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 1983: Guitarist Eric Clapton and his wife Patti Boyd prepare to depart from Heathrow Airport, near London, on January 10, 1983, for their flight to Los Angeles. (AP Photo)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 1984: Pop stars Eric Clapton, left, and Phil Collins at London's Heathrow Airport on March 6, 1984, when they were due to leave for Antigua where they will be working on a new album together. (AP Photo/Press Association)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 1985: Eric Clapton performs at the Live Aid concert in Philadelphia on July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/George Widman)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 1987: Britain's Princess Diana, the Princess of Wales, chats with rock guitarist Eric Clapton, center, and former Beatle drummer Ringo Starr at the Wembley Arena, London, on June 5, 1987, before the Prince's Trust Rock Gala. (AP Photo/Peter Kemp)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 1989: Rock stars Keith Richards, Tina Turner and Eric Clapton perform during the International Rock Awards in New York on May 31, 1989. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 1990: Eric Clapton belts out a tune on the first stop of his world tour at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Monday night, April 3, 1990. (AP Photo/Frankie Ziths)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 1991: The parents of Conor Clapton, rock star Eric Clapton and Italian actress Lori Del Santo, walk behind their son's casket at his funeral in Ripley, Surrey, southern England, on March 28, 1991. The boy was killed after falling from a New York skyscraper. (AP Photo/Denis Paquin)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 1992: Eric Clapton performs one of his two songs during the Bob Dylan anniversary concert at New York's Madison Square Garden on Oct. 16, 1992. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 1993: Eric Clapton accepts his Grammy at the 35th annual Grammy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 1993. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 1999: Rock icon Eric Clapton, left, practices with Blues artist B.B. King for their performance at the 41st annual Grammy Awards ceremony on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 1999, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 2001: Musician Eric Clapton performing at the Concert for New York City to benefit the victims of the World Trade Center disaster at Madison Square Garden in New York City on October 20, 2001. (Scott Gries/ImageDirect via Getty Images)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 2003: Maestro Luciano Pavarotti (left) and singer/guitarist Eric Clapton stand onstage during a sound check session for the Pavarotti and Friends 2003 concert May 26, 2003, in Modena, Italy. (Giuseppe Cacace/Getty Images)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 2004: Eric Clapton performs at the Point Theatre on April 23, 2004, in Dublin, Ireland. (ShowBizIreland/Getty Images)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 2005: Eric Clapton performs on stage at the "Tsunami Disaster Fundraising Concert" at the Millennium Stadium on January 22, 2005, in Cardiff, Wales. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 2007: Musicians Eric Clapton (left) and Sheryl Crow perform during the Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007 held at Toyota Park on July 28, 2007, in Bridgeview, Illinois. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Gibson)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 2008: Eric Clapton performs at The Hard Rock Calling Festival on June 28, 2008, in London. (Jo Hale/Getty Images)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 2009: In this handout image provided by Lobeline Communcations, Van Morrison and friend Eric Clapton pose backstage during two sold-out nights at London's Royal Albert Hall on April 18, 2009, in London. (Listen to the Lion/Lobeline Communcations via Getty Images)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 2010: Musician Eric Clapton performs at the Prince's Trust Rock Gala 2010 supported by Novae at the Royal Albert Hall on November 17, 2010, in London. (Ian Gavan/Getty Images)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 2012: Eric Clapton performs at "12-12-12," a concert benefiting the Robin Hood Relief Fund to aid the victims of Hurricane Sandy, at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2012, in New York City. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Clear Channel)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 2013: Hosts Dan Aykroyd and Eric Clapton speak on stage during the 2013 Crossroads Guitar Festival at Madison Square Garden on April 13, 2013, in New York City. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 2017: Musician Eric Clapton performs at the Forum on September 18, 2017, in Inglewood, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 2018: Roger Daltrey and Eric Clapton attend the launch of the Royal Albert Hall "Walk of Fame" at Royal Albert Hall on September 4, 2018, in London. (Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 2020: Eric Clapton performs on stage during Music for the Marsden 2020 at the O2 Arena on March 3, 2020, in London. (Gareth Cattermole/Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Photos: Eric Clapton through the years 2021: Eric Clapton Performs at Gas South Arena on Friday, September 23, 2021, in Atlanta. (Robb Cohen/Invision/AP)
Through the years The Beatles (L to R) George Harrison, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, stand outside McCartney's home January 1, 1960 in Liverpool, England. Ringo Starr was not to join the band for another two years. (Photo by Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years Beatle George Harrison with his guitar tucked under his arm takes a break from playing at the Cavern 1960 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Getty Images) (AMERICAS SALES ONLY) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years The Beatles perform in November 1963. (Photo by Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years Beatles guitarist and singer George Harrison performs December 3, 1963 during a concert. (Photo by Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years The Beatles, left to right, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and John Lennon (1940 - 1980) arrive at London Airport February 6, 1964, after a trip to Paris. (Photo by Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years The Beatles in Tudor costumes act in a rehearsal for Redifussion's television program ''Round The Beatles'' in London, England in 1964.(Photo by Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years The Beatles (L to R) Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison wave to fans July 2, 1964 as they return to London from a tour of Australia. (Photo by Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years Princess Margaret shakes hands with George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr of the British pop group the Beatles in 1965 in London, England. (Photo by Getty Images) (AMERICAS SALES ONLY) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years Beatles guitarist George Harrison honeymoons with his wife Patti Boyd February 14, 1966 in Barbados. (Photo by Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years George Harrison (1943-2001), guitarist with the Beatles, pictured wearing an oversized jacket and a trilby hat during filming of 'Magical Mystery Tour' in a field near Newquay in Cornwall on 14th September 1967. (Photo by Chapman/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Express/Getty Images)
Through the years 1968: Three Beatles; from left to right John Lennon (1940 - 1980), George Harrison (1943 - 2001) and Paul McCartney, record voices in a studio for their new cartoon film 'Yellow Submarine'. (Photo by Keystone Features/Getty Images) (Keystone Features/Getty Images)
Through the years Beatles Ringo Starr (L) and George Harrison pose with a "Blue Meanie," a character from their animated musical film "Yellow Submarine" July 8, 1968 in London. (Photo by Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years Beatles guitarist and singer George Harrison sits with shaven headed members of a Hindu sect, August 29, 1969. (Photo by Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years British rock star George Harrison of the Beatles with friends from a Hare Krishna Temple who have just made a record gather March 5, 1970 on a rooftop. (Photo by Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years Photo of George HARRISON; playing acoustic guitar, c.1970/1971 (Photo by GAB Archive/Redferns) (GAB Archive/Redferns)
Through the years George Harrison and Eric Clapton performing at the Concert for Bangladesh at Madison Square Garden in 1971. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Through the years Guitarist George Harrison, formerly of The Beatles, performs onstage with an electric guitar at the Cow Palace on November 6, 1975 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Larry Hulst/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Larry Hulst/Getty Images)
Through the years English singer-songwriter, guitarist and former Beatle, George Harrison (1943 - 2001), Cannes, France, 30th January 1976. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) (Michael Putland/Getty Images)
Through the years English singer-songwriter, guitarist and former Beatle, George Harrison (1943 - 2001), Cannes, France, 30th January 1976.(Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) (Michael Putland/Getty Images)
Through the years George Harrison in the 1980s (Photo by Aaron Rapoport/Corbis via Getty Images) (Aaron Rapoport/Corbis via Getty Images)
Through the years Musicians George Harrison (left) and Eric Clapton performing on stage together as part of an all-star band for music legend Carl Perkins, October 23rd 1985. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images) (Dave Hogan/Getty Images)
Through the years Former Beatle George Harrison (1943 - 2001) records 'Let it Be' for Ferry Aid, 1987. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Dave Hogan/Getty Images)
Through the years Eric Clapton (L) and George Harrison are seen in a nightclub following The Prince's Trust Gala 1987 on June 5, 1987 in London, England. (Dave Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Through the years George Harrison at the 1988 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony circa 1988 in New York City. (Photo by Sonia Moskowitz/IMAGES/Getty Images) (Images Press/Getty Images)
Through the years Former Beatle George Harrison, portrait before TV Show Formula One, Munich, Germany, February 1988. (Photo by Bernd Mueller/Redferns) (Bernd Mueller/Redferns)
Through the years George Harrison and Ringo Starr in 1990. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic) (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
Through the years George Harrison with son Dahnnie and wife Olivia at LAX airport in 1998. (Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images) (Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)
Through the years Flowers and notes form a makeshift memorial to the late Beatle George Harrison outside the Abbey Road recording studios November 30, 2001 in London. (Photo by Anthony Harvey/Getty Images) (Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)