Diana’s black sheep jumper fetches auction record $1.1m in New York

The piece, which Diana, Princess of Wales wore in 1981, weeks before her wedding, is most valuable sweater sold at auction

Although often photographed in fine gowns and jewellery, a red jumper decorated with a flock of sheep is one of the most enduringly recognisable of all of the old clothes of Diana, Princess of Wales. Worn to attend a polo match in June 1981, it sold for $1.1m (885,000) in New York on Thursday, making it the most valuable sweater ever sold at auction and setting a record for any article of clothing worn by her, according to Sotheby's.

The auction house had estimated that the jumper would sell for between $50,000 and $80,000 as part of its Fashion Icons collection. Given the attention that Diana's style has enjoyed in recent years, it might have been expected to smash expectations, but perhaps not by 14 times - it may even have helped that it showed signs of wear, with some damage at the cuff.