Princess Diana Wore Philadelphia Eagles Jacket to Show She Was ‘With It’ as a Young Mom, Bodyguard Says

The late Princess of Wales’ unexpected fashion statement is the focus of a special segment heading to ESPN — and PEOPLE has an exclusive sneak peek

PRINCESS DIANA Princess Diana and sons at Alton Towers Theme Park, Alton, Staffordshire, Britain - Apr 1994

Princess Diana smiles at Alton Towers Theme Park in April 1994. Photo: David Hartley/Shutterstock

Princess Diana’s wardrobe was full of surprises — like a Philadelphia Eagles varsity jacket!

The late Princess of Wales’ sporty style statement is the subject of discussion in an upcoming feature on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown, airing Sunday around noon ET. In a segment timed to the return of the Philly football team’s throwback Kelly Green uniforms, Princess Diana’s former bodyguard Ken Wharfe speaks for the first time about the significance of the coat in her royal closet. Wharfe served as personal protection officer for Princess Diana and her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, from 1988 to 1993, during the years Diana was photographed in the jacket on the school run.

“Diana always craved the normalcy. By being a member of the royal family, that was almost impossible. Neither William or Harry, when they were kids, wanted their mother to sort of dress in her finery, take them to school,” Wharfe says. “So all Diana would do is be as casual as possible.”

“And it wasn’t there to impress the people at school. She wanted to be seen as a young mother that was, you know, ‘with it,’ ” he continues of the princess. “Diana loved to be different, this was her style. It sort of showed the public and her children that she was a normal mother in a style that people liked.”

The fashion statement became part of the cultural conversation after a photo of Princess Diana in the green Eagles jacket graced PEOPLE in June 1994. The hands-on mom wore it for a day trip to Alton Towers Theme Park with Prince William and Prince Harry, and Eagles team owner Jeffrey Lurie even had the cover enlarged for his office at Veterans Stadium.

Diana, Princess of Wales (1961 - 1997) wearing a Philadelphia Eagles jacket to drop off her son Prince Harry at Wetherby School in London, January 1991. Prince William (left) is leaving with her, accompanied by a friend.

Princess Diana drops off Prince Harry at Wetherby School in London in January 1991.Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty

The Story Behind Princess Diana’s Philadelphia Eagles Jacket (It Involves an American Royal!)

While the royal provenance of Princess Diana’s bespoke Eagles coat is well known, its whereabouts today remain a mystery. According to Wharfe, the continued intrigue around why the British princess sported a letterman jacket for an American football team (not parlance for soccer!) would amuse Diana if she were alive today.

“This jacket wasn’t just on a floor of her wardrobe in a palace. If Diana were alive today, she’d be excited to know that this jacket, 25, 30 years on, has now become the subject of very positive public scrutiny. I think that’s fantastic,” Wharfe says.

Diana, Princess of Wales (1961 - 1997) wearing a Philadelphia Eagles jacket to drop off her son Prince Harry at Wetherby School in London, January 1991. Prince William is accompanying them.

Princess Diana with Prince William and Prince Harry at Wetherby School in January 1991.Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty

As the story goes, the Princess of Wales received the jacket from the Eagles’ statistician Jack Edelstein after they connected at the funeral for Princess Grace of Monaco in 1982. Before she became a movie star and married Prince Rainier, Grace Kelly was a Philadelphia native and family friend of Edelstein.

The statistician got to talking with Princess Diana and learned her favorite colors were green and silver — the shades of the Eagles team.

Royal bodyguard Ken Wharfe and British royal Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-1997), wearing an outfit by Catherine Walker, at Windsor Great Park where Diana is to start the Windsor Pentathalon in Windsor, Berkshire, England, 10th July 1988.

Princess Diana and Ken Wharfe at Windsor Great Park in July 1988. Princess Diana Archive/Getty

Princess Diana’s Iconic Black Sheep Sweater Sells for Record $1.1M at Auction

After their meeting, Edelstein promised to send Diana some gear — and came through with a package that included the now-iconic bomber.

“We also sent her a beautiful Eagles jacket, made for her. It was [then-team owner] Leonard Tose’s idea. He never went second-class,” Edelstein later told the Philadelphia Daily News. “She sent me a very nice note, how she’d been wearing them around.”

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

People 1994 Princess Diana Cover

PEOPLE magazine, June 13, 1994. People

Princess Diana’s sartorial endorsement of the Eagles team will long live on in fans’ hearts, and photos of her in the coat can be spotted in sports bars around the city today.

“This fan base will be loyal to anybody who buys into their Philadelphia Eagles. So if Diana was somehow an Eagles fan, she would be one of us,” says Merrill Reese, the Eagles’ play-by-play announcer since 1977.

Catch the full segment in the next episode of Sunday NFL Countdown, which airs Sundays on ESPN from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET.

Related Posts

Sergio Perez Now Faces a Significant New Obstacle in His Bid to Secure a Seat with Cadillac for the 2026 Formula 1 Season, Raising Doubts About His Future in the Sport as This Challenge Could Have Serious Implications for His Prospects in the Highly Competitive F1 World.

Sergio Perez would have been looking on at what’s happening at Red Bull Racing this week with great interest after losing his seat on the grid at…

Helmut Marko has issued an official statement regarding the future of Red Bull Racing, providing insights into the team’s plans following the shock removal of Christian Horner from his position. The decision has sent ripples throughout the Formula 1 world, and Marko’s comments aim to clarify Red Bull’s next moves.

Photo: © IMAGO Red Bull F1 advisor Helmut Marko has opened up on the team’s future following the shock dismissal of Christian Horner. Horner was removed from his…

The FIA’s Penalty Controversy That Cost Oscar Piastri a Well-Deserved Win: An In-Depth Look at the Decision That Shook the Racing World.

Lando Norris Triumphs at Silverstone, but Was Oscar Piastri’s 10-Second Penalty Fair? The 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone was a spectacle, with Lando Norris emerging victorious…

Christian Horner ‘Convinced’ Ferrari Move Depends on One Key Factor as Scuderia Targets Red Bull’s Ex-Chief.

Christian Horner might not have to wait long to receive offers to return to Formula 1 after Red Bull Racing sacked the Briton from his role as…

Ferrari Finally Opens Up About the Shocking and Unexpected Challenges Behind Their Struggles in Formula 1, Revealing the Complex Factors That Have Contributed to Their Ongoing Performance Issues, and What They Plan to Do to Overcome These Obstacles and Return to Their Former Glory in the F1 World.

Ferrari’s 2025 Formula 1 Season: The Road to Recovery The 2025 Formula 1 season has been a year of highs and lows for Scuderia Ferrari, with the…

The Surprising Impact of Christian Horner’s Red Bull Decision: Why George Russell May Lose the Most

The news that Red Bull Racing have parted ways with team principal Christian Horner took the Formula 1 world by surprise on Wednesday morning. Red Bull and Christian Horner are…