15 December, 2025, 1:38 pm Central - 24°C Rain

Million-dollar sweater: Bids pour in for Diana's sheep jumper

Million-dollar sweater: Bids pour in for Diana's sheep jumper

By Alifereti Sakiasi
15/09/2023
Princess Diana first wore the sheep jumper to a polo match in 1981 [Photo: Vogue]

Princess Diana's sweater featuring a black sheep among rows of white ones has sold for $1.14 million (£920,000) at an auction by Sotheby's in New York.

Bidding opened 31 August, and the top bid stayed under $200,000 (£161,000) until the auction's final minutes.

Sotheby's had estimated the value of the "sheep jumper" at $50,000 to $80,000 (£40,300 to £64,500).

It did not disclose the identity of the winning bidder.

The simple piece of knitwear, which was unearthed in an attic in March, commanded a higher price than many other objects tied to the "People's Princess" that were sold at auctions in recent years.

Diana's car, a Ford Escort, may be the closest, going for $806,000 (£650,000) in 2022.

The amethyst-bedecked Attallah Cross that Diana frequently wore was sold to reality star Kim Kardashian for roughly one-fifth of the sweater's amount - $203,000 (£163,800) - at an auction in January.

The sweater's design is often described as symbolic of Diana's place within the royal family.

But fashion historians believe Diana was not sending a message, as she may have done in later years with her famous "revenge dress", when she wore the sweater in 1981, a month before her wedding to then Prince Charles. Instead, many say Diana was simply sporting the "Sloane Ranger" style she helped popularise.

In the era before social-media influencers, newspaper photos of Diana in the sweater gave its maker, Warm and Wonderful knitwear, a "stratospheric launch" and inspired copycat designs, according to Sotheby's.

Shortly after her marriage, Buckingham Palace wrote to Warm and Wonderful that the sweater had been damaged and sought a repair or replacement. Princess Diana then wore the replacement to another polo match in 1983.

Sotheby's included the letter to Warm and Wonderful as well as a thank-you note for the replacement in the auction lot. It also used the sweater's small hole to confirm authenticity.

Source: BBC News

FEATURE NEWS
Flash Flood and Heavy Rain warnings in force for Fiji
People are advised to be prepared for flash floods today to Wednesday as a trough of low pressure continues to affect Fiji, and this will be compounde...
1 hour ago
LATEST NEWS
Grieving father demands answers after son dies in Labasa hit-and-run
The father of a man who died after being hit by a vehicle in Labasa last week is questioning the actions of police following the incident and is ...
14 minutes ago

Rabuka condemns antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach
Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sitiveni Rabuka, has strongly condemned the antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach in Australia ...
14 minutes ago

Some of the provisions in Referendum Bill are a mess - Naidu
Prominent Suva lawyer, Richard Naidu says some of the provisions in the National Referendum Bill are a mess, and they seem to have been “cut ...
21 minutes ago

Several roads and crossings in Lautoka, Ba and Rakiraki flooded and closed
As heavy rain continues in parts of the country, several roads and crossings in Lautoka, Ba and Rakiraki are flooded and inaccessible.The Fiji Roads ...
23 minutes ago

Rakiraki Town flooded
Rakiraki Town is flooded, and the water level is expected to rise this afternoon due to the heavy rain experienced throughout the country and the ...
26 minutes ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Sonia Shanaaz says silent treatment hurts as she waits for assistance for her daughter with cerebral palsy
Sonia Shanaaz, the mother of 10-year-old Aarna who was born with cerebral palsy, says silent treatment hurts after she reached out to the ...
3 days ago

I do not support police officers being charged on public opinions and without evidence - COMPOL
Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu says he will stand by his officers, and he does not support any officer being charged based on public opinion ...
3 days ago

Dubai 7s 2025
The Fiji Airways Men’s National 7s side are working on their fitness as they prepare for the start of the 2025/2026 World 7s Series this ...
7 days ago

TOP