The biggest auction of memorabilia of the late British Princess Diana since dozens of her outfits were sold months before her death begins this week in California, including a midnight blue tulle dress and a flamenco-style lace-up dress.
Around fifty items, including gowns, shoes, handbags and hats, will be auctioned off in Beverly Hills.
“Princess Diana’s Elegance and a Royal Collection” brings together some of the designers with expertise in the field of style, including Victor Edelstein, Murray Arbeid and Catherine Walker.
Highlights include Arbid’s blue diamond ball gown, which the princess wore to the London premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera” in 1986, and Edelstein’s magenta lace dress.
Both items are expected to fetch up to $400,000, according to Julien’s Auctions, which is handling the auction.
Explore the elegance of Princess Diana through the eyes of designer Victor Edelstein – his voice and vision come to life in our Royal Collection auction, where his best creations for Lady Di finally grace the auction block.
Register and bid pic.twitter.com/4CgMbf5u3u
— Julien’s Auctions (@JuliensAuctions) June 25, 2024
“We’re celebrating the elegance of Princess Diana here,” said Gabriela Schwartz of the auction house.
“We have some really great items … which Diana wore with great pride and which really epitomise her style.”
Diana married Britain’s current King Charles in 1981 in a lavish ceremony watched by billions of people around the world.
Over the next few years the fairy tale turned sour and their tempestuous relationship became the subject of tabloids and gossip magazines, fueling the celebrity culture that exploded in the 1990s.
The couple had two children – Princes William and Harry – but divorced in 1996 amid tabloid speculation and mutual infidelity.
The following year Diana died in a car crash in Paris while she and her boyfriend were trying to escape paparazzi.
More than a quarter of a century later, the woman known as the “People’s Princess” remains unrivalled as a celebrity and style icon whose charm still captivates millions.
Last year, a dress worn by the princess fetched a whopping $1.14 million at auction.
The collection, which has been touring the world for months, is expected to generate huge interest until bidding closes on Thursday.
In addition to haute couture items, the auction will also feature shoes by Salvatore Ferragamo, Kurt Geiger and Ren, Diana’s own handwritten letters and many other items linked to the British royal family.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
