Princess Diana’s lab coat in sale
A white lab coat worn by Diana, Princess of Wales, during her visit to the Interconnections Systems (Plessey) factory in South Shields on December 9, 1992 – the very day British Prime Minister John Major publicly announced her separation from King Charles III, the then Prince of Wales – will go under the hammer at Anderson & Garland in Newcastle.
The factory visit, intended as part of the Princess’s official duties, took place against the backdrop of global headlines marking the end of the most-watched royal marriage in modern history. The lab coat, manufactured 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 vendor, who worked as a team leader at the South Shields factory, recalls that the coat was left behind on a hanger following Diana’s visit. After asking for permission to take it, she was told she could keep it. Remarkably, the coat has never been washed and has been stored in a wardrobe for over three decades.
The lab coat carries a pre-sale estimate of £800 – £1,200.
The announcement of Diana’s separation marked a significant turning point in royal history. Once a fairytale watched by nearly one billion viewers on their wedding day in 1981, the marriage had long been the subject of tabloid speculation. The couple formally divorced in 1996, and Diana’s tragic death followed just a year later in 1997.
This rare consignment by Anderson & Garland coincides with a major sale of Princess Diana memorabilia hosted by Julien’s Auctions in California last week, where collectors reportedly spent over $5 million on iconic items once worn by the late princess. Among the highlights was a Bellville Sassoon floral dress known as the ‘caring dress’, which sold for over £365,000. Other garments included a white Catherine Walker gown (£455,000), a Bruce Oldfield ensemble (£260,000), and a peach honeymoon hat (£26,000).
As 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.
The sale takes place on July 10.