Now, 26 years after her passing, her personal effects only seem to increase in value. Everything from the icing on her wedding cake that sold at auction for US$2,565, per The Guardian, to a retro Virgin Atlantic jumper given to her by Richard Branson that sold for US$52,000, according to British media, have made headlines.
Earlier this month, a single item of clothing went for a staggering US$1.14 million: that ‘black sheep’ jumper by British brand Warm & Wonderful.Read on to find out about the 10 most expensive Princess Diana items sold at auction since her death.
10. Collection of handwritten letters – US$18,300
A favourite of many members of the royal family, according to the BBC, head Buckingham Palace steward Cyril Dickman received a handful of handwritten letters from Diana in the 1980s and 1990s, including one in which the princess reveals that Prince Harry was “constantly in trouble at school”. Dickman’s family sold six of the letters for US$18,300 (£15,100) at auction, per the BBC.
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9. The Attallah Cross – US$197,500
Created by Garrard in the 1920s, this striking amethyst and diamond pendant was owned by businessman Naim Attallah, who loaned it to Diana for several public appearances, according to Vogue. The same source stated that the jewellery piece was only ever worn by her.
8. Velvet Victor Edelstein dress – US$321,000
Princess Diana wore a Victor Edelstein velvet gown on a visit to The White House in 1985 and was subsequently photographed getting down on the dance floor with John Travolta.
Initially auctioning off the dress for charity while she was still alive, British media reports that the piece eventually fetched US$321,000 (£264,000) in 2019 when it was bought by Historic Royal Palaces.
7. Catherine Walker black and ivory dress – US$508,000
In early September, three of Diana’s dresses were put up for auction in Beverly Hills and online by Julien’s Auctions. Initially expected to fetch no more than US$80,000, per its listing, the stylish dress stunned everyone when it sold for US$508,000.
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6. Black and jade Catherine Walker dress – US$571,500
Princess Diana wore the dress to a gala dinner at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto in 1991, according to People. With a minimum bid of US$100,000 at the Beverly Hills auction mentioned above, the dress also exceeded expectations when it sold for more than five times that.
5. Bruce Oldfield red dress – US$571,500
She wore this shimmering scarlet number by British designer Bruce Oldfield to the premiere of Hot Shots! in 1991 and, as part of the same Beverly Hills auction in early September, it fetched an impressive US$571,500, per People.
4. Victor Edelstein purple velvet dress – US$604,800
It’s perhaps no surprise that this gorgeous aubergine velvet dress by British couturier Victor Edelstein fetched over half a million US dollars at auction. With its sweetheart neckline and tulip skirt, it was first worn by the princess for a royal portrait in 1991 and then again when she was photographed by Mario Testino in 1997, per British media.
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3. Ford Escort – US$764,000
It may have the price tag of one of Lionel Messi’s supercars, but this Ford Escort is much humbler. Driven by the princess between 1985 and 1988, according to the BBC, the model is also unique for being the only RS Turbo Series 1 made by Ford in black.In August last year, when the perfectly preserved vehicle came up for auction, a bidder from Dubai and a bidder from Coventry went into battle until the British bidder won out, per BBC. It eventually sold for US$764,000, states The Washington Post.
2. Garrard “Swan Lake” Suite – US$1 million
Dubbed the “Swan Lake” suite because Diana wore its necklace and earrings to the famous ballet performance in 1997, the set was some of the only jewellery owned by Diana privately and not on loan from the crown.
According to WWD, the set was commissioned for her by her partner at the time, Dodi Fayed, and tragically her much photographed public outing in them was to be one of her last. The jewellery set was sold to a furniture magnate for US$1 million, but has since changed hands and is now with a “prominent” museum, per the National Jeweler.
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1. Black Sheep jumper – US$1.14 million
Incredibly, it’s this cheerful yet everyday jumper by British brand Warm & Wonderful – that’s still in production today, we might add – that has fetched more than any other item of Diana’s at auction to date.
Diana was just 19 in 1981 when she was photographed wearing the jumper at one of then-Prince Charles’ polo matches. Sotheby’s has not yet revealed who got the winning bid, but it is now the most valuable knitted jumper ever sold at auction, per Al Jazeera.
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