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Princess Diana’s one-of-a-kind Ford Escort sells for £650,000 at auction

diana's car
The car was once driven by Diana around the streets of Kensington and Chelsea (Picture: Reuters/Getty Images)

A car which once belonged to Princess Diana has sold at auction for £650,000.

The black Ford Escort was driven by Diana from August 23, 1985, to May 1, 1988, and went under the hammer at Silverstone Auctions on Saturday.

She was pictured driving the RS Turbo Series 1 outside the boutique shops of Chelsea and the restaurants of Kensington.

Diana preferred to drive her own car and had a member of the Royalty Protection Command (SO14) in the passenger seat.

It is believed to be unique as the first and only black RS Turbo Series 1, as agreed by S014 and the Ford PR department for reasons of discretion, instead of the only-white manufactured model.

The Ford factory’s special vehicle engineering department was tasked to supply the car and it fitted a regular five-slat front grille to assist in the ‘stealth makeover’.

WINDSOR, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 20: Princess Diana Driving Her Ford Escort With Prince William Sitting In A Special Car Seat Behind (date Not Certain) (Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Prince William used to take rides in the back of the car with his mum (Picture: Getty Images)
A 1985 Ford Escort RS Turbo S1 car formerly driven by the late Princess Diana, offered for sale via Silverstone Auctions on August 27, 2022, is seen in this undated handout photo taken in an unknown location. Silverstone Auctions /Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. NO NEW USE AFTER SEPTEMBER 25, 2022
The 1985 Ford Escort RS Turbo S1 car sold today for £650,000 (Picture: Reuters)

There was also a secondary rear-view mirror for the protection officer with a radio in the glove box, with the cable still visible.

The car has just 24,961 miles on the clock.

Arwel Richards, a classic car specialist at Silverstone Auctions, said: ‘The RS Turbo is a driver’s car and the late Diana, Princess of Wales was clearly a fan.

‘It was a fascinating choice for the daughter of an earl, mother of the future king, and the daughter-in-law of the Queen to choose.

‘Isn’t it fascinating that the Escort RS Turbo was to be synonymous with the white stilettos of Essex but it’s first champion was the most glamorous woman on Earth?’

In June 2021, another Ford Escort used by Diana sold at auction for £52,000.

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