The apartment was an eighteenth birthday present given to Diana by her parents in July 1979. The asking price of the property is $ 738,000, more than eight times what her family originally paid.

Diana, divorced in 1996 and killed in a car crash nearly a year ago, once said her happiest days were spent in the apartment. Describing it in Andrew Morton's book Diana, Her True Story,'' the princess had said: ``I laughed my head off there.''

Before her engagement to Charles, Diana lived with her friends in the apartment and charged them $ 29.50 a week as rent. Diana's bedroom door was emblazoned with the words ``Chief Chick'', so no one would forget her landlady status.

One of Diana's thousands of Christmas cards, however, found an eager buyer yesterday.

A card signed by Diana and Charles and sent to the late Lord Tonypandy sold for $ 1,530 at anauction in Wales of the politician's belongings, Phillips Auctioneers said.

The anonymous buyer, bidding by telephone, also bought a signed photograph of the royal couple standing with Lord Tonypandy for $ 2,100.