A Ford Escort, which was given to the late Princess Diana by Prince Charles, opened today (Tuesday, April 29th).
Lady Diana Spencer received the silver 1.6 liter car from the Prince of Wales as an engagement gift in May 1981, two months before their wedding in July 1981.
She has been pictured in the car several times, including when she drove to watch Prince Charles play polo.
Read more: The lovable nicknames Princess Diana gave her sons
The hood featured a unique silver frog – a copy of the original mascot that the princess was given by her sister Sarah and that Diana kept when the car was sold.
The car has been owned by a Royal Family fan since 2000, but today it was sold in an online auction by Reeman Dansie Auctions of Colchester, Essex.
The car achieved an impressive sum at auction
(Image: Joe Giddens / PA)
The auction was won by a telephone bidder for £ 52,640 including VAT and buyer’s premium.
The hammer price was £ 47,000, exceeding the pre-auction estimate of £ 30,000 to £ 40,000.
Lewis Rabett of Reeman Dansie Auctions said the bid came from a museum in the South American country of Chile and the car will be shipped there.
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“The interest was considerable before the auction,” he said.
“Landing in South America is proof of the global interest in the car.
“It is also evidence of Diana and her enduring legacy.”
The car still has its original registration, WEV 297W, as well as its original paint and upholstery, and has 83,000 miles on the clock.
