Many of Princess Diana’s personal items are set to go under the hammer in an upcoming auction, including a wide array of designer dresses and accessories. However, one notable category will be missing from the collection—her iconic coats.
The auction, scheduled for June 26, will feature over 300 items once belonging to the beloved royal. But those hoping to get their hands on one of Diana’s famously elegant coats will be disappointed, as none are included in the sale.
Martin Nolan, co-founder and executive director of Julien’s Auctions, which is organizing the event titled Princess Diana’s Style & A Royal Collection, explained the poignant reason behind their absence. He revealed that throughout her life, Diana was exceptionally generous, often giving away her personal belongings to those in need. One of her most discreet and compassionate acts was donating her coats during the coldest months of the year.
According to Nolan, Diana would ask her butler, staff, or friends to drive around London during the freezing winter months of January and February. During these quiet missions of kindness, she would personally hand out her own coats to homeless individuals she encountered on the streets—never seeking attention or recognition for her acts of generosity.
In addition to discussing her charitable nature, Nolan also offered insight into how Diana expressed herself through fashion. One standout item in the auction is an evening gown from 1986, designed by Catherine Walker. The dress features embroidered falcons in flight cascading down the back and was worn by Diana during a royal visit to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia in the late 1980s.
Nolan also recalled Diana’s own charitable auction held in 1997, just two months before her untimely death. At the suggestion of her son, Prince William, she chose to sell more than 70 of her dresses to raise funds for various causes close to her heart. That event raised over $3 million—an extraordinary amount at the time.
Princess Diana tragically passed away in 1997 following a devastating car accident, but her legacy of compassion, elegance, and philanthropy continues to resonate today.
