Vehicle Description
Twenty-year-old Diana became Princess of Wales when she married the
Prince of Wales on 29 July 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral. The service
was widely described as a 'fairytale wedding' and was watched by a
global television audience of 750 million people while 600,000
spectators lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the couple en
route to the ceremony. The Princess developed an intense interest
in serious illnesses and health-related matters outside the purview
of traditional royal involvement, including AIDS and leprosy. In
recognition of her effect as a philanthropist, Stephen Lee,
director of the UK Institute of Charity Fundraising Managers, said
"Her overall effect on charity is probably more significant than
any other person's in the 20th century." She was the patroness of
charities and organisations, working with the homeless, youth, drug
addicts, the elderly and, famously, landmines. From 1989, she was
president of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children right up
until her untimely death in 1997. This Audi Cabriolet was loaned to
the princess for her personal use by Dovercourt Audi of St John's
Wood, London. The car is registered L541 GJD but has been off the
road in storage for the last eight years. Its current owner bought
it in 2004 and used it as a family car until 2009, before storing
it when the significance of the vehicle became more apparent. As
The Princess of Wales, Diana was known for her charitable work, and
was patron of more than 100 charities. According to sale notes "her
choice of an Audi Cabriolet would well have been due to the car's
understated elegance combined with a powerful engine". Very few
cars are actually owned by the Royal Mews, apart from the
limousines intended for state use, and most vehicles made available
for "junior" royalty are provided by manufacturers hopeful of some
beneficial exposure, and this Audi Cabriolet was no exception. The
car has been captured in numerous press images showing the Princess
stepping in and out of the Audi Cabriolet with the number plate
clearly visible. For sale by auction on Saturday 23 September 2017
with Historics at Brooklands, Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit,
Weybridge, Surrey, Call 01753 639170
