a) Letter. TLS. Margaret Thatcher to Philip Larkin: asks if he would be willing to have his name put forward to HM The Queen as the next Poet Laureate in succession to the late Sir John Betjeman, 7 November 1984

b) Letter. TL. Philip Larkin to Margaret Thatcher: politely declines the offer, giving his reasons, 13 November 1984

c) Letter. TLS. Margaret Thatcher to Philip Larkin: accepts his decision, whilst expressing her admiration for his poetry, 16 November 1984

d) Letter. TL. Philip Larkin to Margaret Thatcher: acknowledges her letter of 16 November, and asserts the correctness of his decision, 20 November 1984

e) Letter. TLS. Margaret Thatcher to Philip Larkin: asks if he would be willing to have his name submitted to HM The Queen for appointment to the Order of the Companions of Honour, 2 May 1985

f) Letter. TL. Philip Larkin to Margaret Thatcher: confirms his acceptance of the proposal in her letter of 2 May, 11 May 1985

g) Letter. TLS. Russell Wood, Buckingham Palace, to Philip Larkin: congratulates him on becoming a Companion of Honour; Ted Hughes wishes to call a meeting of The Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry Committee, 17 June 1985