Fijivillage
NEWS SPORTS IN DEPTH
11 March, 2026, 6:23 pm
Central - 27°C Clouds
11 March, 2026, 6:23 pm Central - 27°C Clouds

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
PM appeals Malimali ruling and wants Rokoika to stay as Acting FICAC Commissioner
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka has decided to appeal High Court Judge, Justice Dane Tuiqereqere's ruling that the dismissal of Barbara Malimali as FI...
1 minute ago
LATEST NEWS
Judge warns the State over possible perjury with their witness in Health Tender trial
Suva High Court Judge Justice Usaia Ratuvili has reminded the State in the Health Tender trial of Voreqe Bainimarama, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Dr Neil ...
9 minutes ago

$6.9M paid in compensation for 590 workplace and school accident cases since June 2024
More than $6.9 million has been paid out to 590 victims of workplace and school accidents since June 2024, highlighting the scale of injuries ...
1 hour ago

UniFiji urging for more creative solutions to numeracy crisis in Fiji
The University of Fiji is urging for a more creative solution to the numeracy crisis in Fiji.They say that major and radical attitudes towards the ...
1 hour ago

Fiji has fuel supply until at least end of the month if supply stops today
Should fuel supply halt today due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, Fiji has enough supply for at least until the end of the month but should it ...
3 hours ago

Parliament passes motion to increase Govt guarantee limit from $190M to $220M
Parliament has unanimously passed a motion to increase the Government guarantee limit for the Fiji Development Bank borrowings from $190 million to ...
3 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Fiji Sports Council Saga: Minister ready to repay business class air fare for wife as concerns grow about Sports Council deals
I was invited to travel to New Zealand by the Fiji Sports Council for a grassroots 7s tournament in 2024, I travelled business class but it was ...
5 days ago

National Talanoa Session on Illicit Drugs in Fiji: 2,400 drug-related cases recorded in 2025
The illicit drug situation in Fiji has been described as a national emergency, with 2,400 drug-related cases recorded in 2025. Minister for Policing ...
12 days ago

Charlie Charters held at Nadi Airport because of a FICAC flag on his file
Fijian national, Charlie Charters is being held at immigration at Nadi International Airport because of a FICAC flag on his file.fijivillage News has ...
12 days ago

TOP