Princess Diana's £7k crocodile bag she gave away as a thank you gift

Princess Diana had endless iconic fashion moments, everything from her unforgettable revenge dress to those killer 90s cycling shorts. The former Princess of Wales also had an array of handbags in her extensive wardrobe. Fashion fans of Diana may remember her love for the specially designed Lana Marks crocodile bags – so much so, she purchased 15 versions! Here's the story of what happened to one of the designer bags…

© Photo: Getty Images

Expert auctioneer and valuer, James Grinter, from Reeman Dansie, gave us the full backstory. It transpires that the royal gave away the black version of the bag, as a thank you gift. After a friend had admired it at a dinner party, she decided to send her it, alongside a handwritten note. Written on Kensington Palace headed paper, dated 19 September 1996, just weeks after her divorce was finalised, Diana thanked her friend for helping with her during a one-day visit to Greece. 

© Reeman Dansie

The trip was to attend the funeral of Giannis Kaliviotos, a 27-year-old Greek lawyer whom the Princess first met at the Royal Brompton Hospital. She thanked her friend for helping her navigate the intense media attention, ending the note with: "This comes with my fondest love and very special thanks from Diana".

"This comes with my fondest love and very special thanks from Diana".

The chic design of the bag featured a structured handle, crocodile leather and gold hardware, giving it a distinctly glamorous feel, and it was later sold by auctioneers Reeman Dansie and fetched £7,000! 

Lady Dior icon

© Tim Graham Photo Library via Get

Diana's handbag obsession was so major that she inspired the House of Dior to rename one of its iconic bags after the royal herself. The 'Lady Dior' bag was originally known as the Chouchou. In 1996, however, Diana carried it and the rest is history. It's still one of the brand's most instantly recognisable and popular pieces.

Royal auction items

As well as Diana's divorce bag, James has also revealed some of the most interesting royal pieces he's seen being snapped up over the years. For example, Queen Elizabeth II's driving licence from her military days reached a whopping £6,800. One of the more unusual items sold was a piece of the late Queen Elizabeth II's 1947 wedding cake, in its original packaging, which went for £3,600. The cake was originally 2.7 metres (9 feet) high and weighed a staggering 226 kg (500 pounds), according to the Royal Collection Trust.