Real reason Princess Diana's coats have never been sold at auction revealed

Princess Diana’s style epitomised royal glamour. Her looks in the 1980s and 90s led her to be considered a fashion icon around the globe. On June 26, over 300 of Diana’s personal belongings, including a selection of designer dresses, are set to be put up for auction.

Eagle-eyed fans will notice that there is one item that they cannot get their hands on, and that’s her coats. Martin Nolan, co-founder and executive director of Julien’s Auction, who is holding Princess Diana’s Style & A Royal Collection, explained that bidders will struggle to purchase jackets worn by her.

“We learnt through this how generous Diana was, always giving items. And you never see a coat from Diana come to auction because she used to get her butler or her staff or friends to drive around London [in] January, February, [in the] freezing cold,” he shared.

The expert continued to explain that the former Princess of Wales was incredibly generous behind the scenes and often looked for opportunities to give back.

He added, “She’d find homeless people and give them her coats.” Claiming that it was not a one-off, “That’s how she was — without any spectacle or whatever.”

Every outfit Diana ever wore told a story. Diana’s fashion choices were not merely about aesthetics; they were a form of self-expression and empowerment.

One item hitting the auction block is Princess Diana’s 1986 Catherine Walker Falcon Evening Gown – a label loved by Princess Kate.

“This beautiful dress was designed by Catherine Walker, with the falcons in migration mode all the way down the back. She wore this to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia on a royal visit back in the late 1980s,” Nolan shared.

He continued, “When Diana did her own auction in 1997, just two months before she suddenly passed away, this was one of the dresses that she sold for charity.

“She sold over 70 gowns at the behest of her son, Prince William, and to raise money for her charities. She raised over $3 million, which was huge at that time.”

Back in 2023, Julien’s Auctions put Diana’s Jacques Azagury ballerina-length gown under the hammer.

The romantic evening dress was designed by Moroccan-British fashion designer Jacques Azagury and was worn by the late princess in Florence in 1985 and Vancouver in 1986, and Julien’s Auctions sold it for a whopping $1.14 million US dollars (£889,000).

Julien’s auction is set to take place on Thursday, June 26, at 10:00 am Pacific Time at The Peninsula Beverly Hills.