Princess Diana’s 1981 engagement present is going to be for sale at an auction over 40 years later. Prince Charles gave Diana her 1981 Ford Escort Ghia Saloon car as an engagement present in May 1981. It was two months before their wedding at London’s renowned St Paul’s Cathedral. Princess Diana’s engagement present, a 1981 Ford Escort Ghia Saloon, a gorgeous silver car, is now going for auction later this month.
The car was in use by Princess Diana until 1982 when she sold it to a private owner. The car has been in immaculate shape for the last 20 years or so. A “great admirer” of Diana, who has essentially kept the vehicle safely tucked away in a garage. The beautiful silver automobile has expectations to achieve between £30,000 and £40,000 at the auction on June 29. It is going to be at Reeman Dansie’s Royalty, Antiques, and Fine Art Sale in Essex.
The interior upholstery and original paintwork of the car have been intact to this day. According to Lewis Rabett of Reeman Dansie auctioneers, who spoke to People, said that “The car has been dry stored for quite a few years. This is really nice because keeping it stored in a dry barn or garage has kept it in a really nice condition. Escorts of that age weren’t like modern cars with really good galvanizing and rust-proofing, so a lot of them have just rusted away. Now, 40 years later, you don’t tend to find Escorts at all, let alone ones with the provenance of this car”.
Diana’s car’s original radio, as well as its nameplate and a silver frog mascot on the bonnet, all still intact. Princess Diana frequently drove the car in and around London, and she even took it to Prince Charles’ polo matches.