A red sweater emblazoned with a flock of sheep — plus a black sheep among all the white — is expected to fetch more than $50,000 (more than 500,000 Swedish kronor) at a fashion auction early this fall.
It is the auction house Sothebys that hopes to sell the shirt – famous for having been worn by the late Princess Diana.
The then 19-year-old Diana Spencer was photographed wearing the garment during a polo match in June 1981, shortly after her engagement to Prince Charles, who was then heir to the British throne.
A few weeks after the photo opportunity, the company that produced the shirt returned it because it had been damaged. Along came a letter from Buckingham Palace asking if it was possible to repair the shirt or have it replaced. A new sweater was knitted and sent to Diana. The original was found earlier this year, forgotten in a box in an attic.
The sweater model is still sold by the company and today costs the equivalent of just over SEK 2,500.
It has been speculated that Diana liked the “black sheep” because she already felt left out of the royal family.