Princess Diana’s iconic fashion items to be auctioned in Beverly Hills

Reuters

More than 100 personal items belonging to Princess Diana, including famous dresses and accessories, will go up for auction this month in what organisers call the largest sale of her fashion legacy to date.

An extensive collection of Princess Diana’s clothing and accessories will be auctioned on June 26 in Beverly Hills, marking what Julien’s Auctions describes as the most significant sale of the late royal’s fashion items.

Titled "Princess Diana’s Style & A Royal Collection", the auction will feature over 100 pieces once worn or owned by the Princess of Wales. The live and online event will take place at The Peninsula Beverly Hills, following a pre-sale exhibition in Newbridge, Ireland, which runs until June 17.

"This is the largest Princess Diana auction because we have over 100 items from her amazing life and career," said Martin Nolan, executive director and co-founder of Julien’s Auctions. He noted that Diana herself sold over 70 of her dresses in 1997 to benefit charity shortly before her death.

Highlights of the sale include a 1988 floral silk dress by Bellville Sassoon, often referred to as the “caring dress” due to Diana wearing it on multiple hospital visits. Its estimated sale price ranges from $200,000 to $300,000.

Also featured is a cream silk evening gown by Catherine Walker, worn during Diana’s 1986 Gulf tour, with a similar valuation. A yellow floral two-piece set designed by Bruce Oldfield and worn to Royal Ascot in 1987 is expected to fetch between $100,000 and $200,000.

Additional items include a Dior handbag gifted by former French first lady Bernadette Chirac in 1995, a sketch and tulle fabric cuttings from her iconic 1981 wedding dress, and a peach-coloured hat worn during her honeymoon departure.

Pieces associated with other British royals, including Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother, will also be included in the sale.

Nolan highlighted the increasing perception of royal fashion memorabilia as investment-worthy assets. “People do consider these items as an asset class now,” he said. “Chances are in years to come they will sell them for more than what they pay for (at) auction.”

Part of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to Muscular Dystrophy UK, continuing Diana’s charitable legacy.

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