Princess Diana coat worn on day of separation sold

Molly Smith
BBC News, North East and Cumbria
Anderson & Garland Auctioneers Graham Greaves is standing to the right of the white lab coat which is on a stand. He is wearing a pink shirt and black trousers. There is a man on the right wearing a light blue shirt.Anderson & Garland Auctioneers
Graham Greaves (right) said he bought the coat so he could own "a little bit of history"

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 9 December, 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."

Anderson and Garland The Princess of Wales is wearing the coat, looking to the side and smiling. She is wearing a black top underneath and her engagement and wedding ring are visible. She is surrounded by workers also in white lab coats. Anderson and Garland
The coat had been expected to fetch between £800 and £1,200, but went for £4,500

The coat, made by Scottish firm Alexandra, features the embroidered text H.R.H. The Princess of Wales 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."

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