Diana’s ‘symbolic’ shawl goes under the hammer

ONE of Princess Diana’s woollen shawls is being auctioned today at Reeman Dansie with a reserve price of £1,000.

Embroidered with yellow, purple and white silk decoration and floral borders, it was presented to Diana by Iman Abdul Qadir on her four-day tour of Pakistan in 1991. She immediately wrapped it around her head with the Iman’s help. He told her the symbolic nature of this gift dates from when the prophet Mohammed gave a Christian girl a black shawl as a symbol of unity between their two religions.

On returning to England, Diana gave the shawl to her acupuncturist and confidante Oonagh ShanleyToffolo, who had cherished it until her death in 2015.