Royals

An unwashed item in Princess Diana’s wardrobe has just sold for 75K

Jul 16, 2019

The royal's famous Virgin Atlantic sweatshirt has just been sold at an auction for thousands of dollars. Source: Getty

An unwashed gym sweater once worn by Princess Diana has just sold at an auction for thousands of dollars.

The royal’s famous Virgin Atlantic sweatshirt, which she used to wear to the gym everyday to frustrate the paparazzi, sold for US$53,532 (AU$76,579), according to Boston-based RR Auction.

Princess Diana gave her gym sweater to her longtime personal trainer Jenni Rivett, who put it up for auction last week.

According to Rivett, the mother-of-two purposefully wore the sweater to gym everyday to fool the paparazzi. The idea was that they would always end up with the same image, and therefore they wouldn’t be able to sell it.

Princess Diana pictured in 1995 leaving a gym. Source: Getty

“This sweater was given to HRH by Sir Richard Branson,” Rivett wrote in a note accompanying the item.

“It became her most worn top on her regular visits to the gym. She felt there were far more important issues to focus on in the world than her gym attire and therefore decided that wearing the famous Virgin sweatshirt to every session would be a good way to stop the media frenzy.”

She also revealed the famous gym sweater was left to her unwashed.

Diana’s former personal trainer revealed she plans to donate the proceeds from the auction to help a Malawian family based in South Africa.

“The princess would definitely approve if she were still alive. Causes in Africa were always very close to her heart,” she added.

Princess Diana’s son Prince Harry has previously spoken out about his late mother’s work overseas and how, while some didn’t agree with her actions, Diana simply wanted to help the people of Africa.

Speaking on International Mine Awareness Day in 2017, The Mirror reports he said: “Some believed she had stepped over the line into the arena of political campaigning – but for her this wasn’t about politics; it was about people.

“She knew she had a big spotlight to shine and she used it to bring attention on the people that others had forgotten, ignored or were too afraid to support.”