A green Jaguar XJ, similar to Princess Diana’s Credit: Shutterstock, Karasev Viktor
Everybody, even those not alive at the time, can picture the moment Princess Diana stepped out in her black, off the shoulder “revenge dress”. It was a jaw-dropping moment that has since been immortalised in public memory.
And now, a key object of that iconic day has found a new owner after collectors and car enthusiasts battled it out at auction for the prized Jaguar that Princess Diana emerged from thirty-two years ago.
The Jaguar behind the iconic royal moment
Jaguar has long been one of the main car suppliers for the Royal Family, and the green Jaguar XJ40 Sovereign was reportedly a favourite of Princess Diana’s. She was regularly seen travelling in the vehicle between March 1994 and February 1997, before it left the royal fleet and was acquired by a private buyer.
The car became forever linked to one of the most memorable moments in royal history when Diana arrived at London’s Serpentine Gallery wearing the dress that would become known around the world as the “revenge dress”.
Royal features still remain
The vintage vehicle has beige leather upholstery and still holds subtle signs of its royal past. A button marked “security” remains engraved inside the central armrest storage cubby, a feature found in vehicles used to transport members of the Royal Family. The car also retains several original fittings from its time in royal service, adding to its appeal among collectors.
Auction result falls short of expectations
Admittedly, it is the car’s connection to the late Princess Diana that made this such a noteworthy sale for collectors and royal enthusiasts. Prior to the auction, experts suggested the Jaguar could fetch around £100,000, with some estimates reaching as high as £150,000. Without its royal provenance, the vehicle would likely have been worth closer to £5,000.
However, when bidding closed, the Jaguar sold for £66,250. While the final price fell below the most optimistic predictions, it was still many times higher than the value of a comparable XJ40 Sovereign and demonstrated the enduring fascination with items connected to the People’s Princess. The auction attracted significant interest from bidders eager to own a tangible piece of royal history.
Princess Diana’s enduring legacy
The sale is the latest example of the remarkable demand for memorabilia associated with Princess Diana. Her personal vehicles and fashion items have repeatedly achieved impressive prices at auction, reflecting her lasting cultural impact nearly three decades after her death. For many buyers, the Jaguar represented more than a classic luxury saloon; it was a rare link to one of the defining images of modern royal history.
