The millionaire Dragon and entrepreneur offered the eye-watering sum on auction site eBay
Princess Beatrice may have announced plans to auction off her attention-grabbing Royal Wedding hat on eBay only yesterday, but already the unusual lot has attracted a star bidder – none other than millionaire entrepreneur and Duncan Bannatyne.
PRINCESS BEATRICE: A LIFE IN PICTURES
The fierce Dragon’s Den star has bid a generous £5000 for Princess Beatrice’s one-of-a-kind ruffled nude hat, designed by milliner Philip Treacy, in the eBay auction, being held to raise money for charities UNICEF and Children in Crisis.
Critics may have been lining up to slam Bea’s outlandish choice of headwear, but Duncan has revealed he's more than happy to part with his cash to own the curious creation.
And today UNICEF released a mock up of the businessman modelling the hat, to support the charity eBay campaign.
‘Whatever anyone thinks of the hat it's fantastic that Princess Beatrice is doing this for Unicef and Children in Crisis. Good for her!’ Duncan – a UNICEF ambassador said.
‘I've seen the life-saving work that Unicef does for children in Bolivia and Haiti and every penny raised really will change children's lives around the world.’
And bidding hasn’t closed yet. If YOU would like to be the proud owner of Bea’s experimental headwear, you have until May 22 to place a bid.
‘I'd encourage everyone to get bidding to raise as much money as possible,’ Duncan added. ‘For once I don't mind if I don't walk away with the deal.’
Earlier this week, Bea laughed off criticism, describing it as ‘incredible’ that her choice of Royal Wedding headwear has received so much attention.
‘It’s an incredible response to that hat really, I’m glad it provoked so much conversation,’ she said in a recent interview.
‘I think it’s wonderful that it’s had a reaction, it is just a hat after all, and now it has got its own Facebook page and so many fans.
'I hope whoever wins the auction has as much fun with the hat as I have.'
Will YOU be bidding for Princess Bea’s Royal Wedding headpiece? Let us know in the comments box below.