Europe

Princess Diana coat worn on day of separation sold for £4,500

An “unwashed” lab coat worn by Princess Diana on the day it was announced her marriage had ended has been sold at auction.

The Princess of Wales wore the coat during her visit to the Interconnections Systems factory in South Shields on December 9, 1992.

This was on the same day the then-Prime Minister John Major announced she and Prince Charles, now King Charles III, had separated.

The coat, auctioned by Anderson & Garland, was bought by Graham Greaves of Annitsford in North Tyneside for £4,500, who said he wanted a “little bit of history”.

The coat, which has been kept in a wardrobe ever since, had been expected to fetch between £800 and £1,200.

Mr Greaves, who had never been to an auction, bid for the coat online.

He said: “I think Diana’s story was very intriguing, this coat is a little tale of when she came to the North East, and it’s very nice to have a bit of history.

“It’s something you can look back on, and I hope it becomes a family heirloom in years to come – in my era, we liked Diana.”

Graham Greaves (right) said he bought the coat so he could own “a little bit of history”

The coat, made by Scottish firm Alexandra, features the embroidered text H.R.H. The Princess of Wales is on the pocket and is labelled Euro size 50.

The coat’s seller, who worked as a team leader at the factory, said it was left behind on a hanger after the visit, and she was given permission to keep it.

She said she had never washed the coat in the last three decades.

A spokesperson for the auctioneer said: “The fascination with Diana’s legacy continues around the globe.

“This simple lab coat, worn on one of the most pivotal days of her life, offers collectors a poignant and tangible connection to the People’s Princess.”

SourceBBC

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

Related Articles

Back to top button