Overview
- A signed pair of pale leather flying gloves worn during the 1982 Falklands conflict attracted no bids at a Reeman Dansie sale in Colchester and did not meet an undisclosed reserve.
- The gloves showed dirt from helicopter operations, were valued at about £1,000 to £2,000, and had been kept by their original purchaser for more than 40 years after a post-war charity sale.
- James Grinter, the auctioneer, said items linked to Andrew had sold well in the past but that there was “no interest and no bids” this time, which he attributed to the former duke’s damaged public standing.
- Institutional and legal developments have altered the market for his memorabilia: the King revoked his royal status last October, his name was removed from Falklands plaques, and he remains under police investigation after a February arrest while denying wrongdoing.
- The result stood in contrast to other lots at the same sale, including a Diana letter that fetched £5,330, and signals potential further weakness in demand for items tied to Andrew as the inquiry and reputational fallout continue.