Largest collection of Diana's items since 1997 heads to auction (2024)

A sparkling collection of gowns, accessories, and keepsakes belonging to Princess Diana is set to go under the hammer this week.

The LA-based 'Princess Diana's Elegance & A Royal Collection' auction is the most extensive collection of Diana's personal belongings to be sold since 1997, according to Julien's Auctions.

The formerPrincess of Wales's iconic wardrobe - from her enchanting wedding gown in 1981 to 'casual street style' in later years - chronicled her growth and global fame.

A pair of gowns that sold at the 1997 auction, two months before her death, top the upcoming sale on June 27 at The Peninsula Beverly Hills in Los Angeles.

It is set to feature a stunning Murray Arbeid midnight blue tulle strapless gown that Diana wore twice in 1986 - to the Phantom Of The Opera premiere and to a dinner with King Constantine of Greece- and to a Royal Opera House performance of Cinderella in 1987, which has a top estimate of $400,000 (£315,000).

The timeless gown is adorned withtwinkling diamanté stars and fuelled the 'Di-mania' sweeping the country, cementing her status as a cultural icon.

Meanwhile a magenta silk and lace off-the-shoulder evening dress designed by Victor Edelstein, which Diana wore in London and Germany in 1987, shares the same ceiling estimate and is another fairytale ballgown.

'People will know that name because Victor Edelstein also designed the very famous navy blue dress Diana wore when she danced with John Travolta at the White Housein 1985,' said Martin Nolan, co-founder and executive director of Julien's Auctions.

Diana first met Edelstein when she was pregnant with William, and the pair worked together closely as she was often present to help customize the designs to her taste.

Mr Nolan described Diana as a 'princess of economics,' wearing gowns numerous times not only for environmental reasons but also to 'use her celebrity status to shine a spotlight on up-and-coming or new or unknown designers,' including Edelstein, Caroline Charles, and Catherine Walker - all of whom feature in the auction.

Wearing gowns on multiple occasions was then considered a taboo in celebrity culture, but was also intended to compensate for the time making the dress.

The glamorous pink floral silk shirt dress designed by Walker, which Diana wore to Prince William's sports day at Richmond Stadium in 1988 as well as leaving Prince Harry's school in Notting Hill in 1992, has a top estimate of $200,000 (£158,000).

Walker, one of Diana's favourite designers, also created the yellow and navy two-piece skirt suit that she wore several times during a 1989 visit to Hong Kong for the opening of the Red Cross and in 1991 at Buckingham Palace for the Trooping the Color Celebrations. The set is estimated to sell at $10,000 (£7,800).

The sale comes after a Jacques Azagury-designed dress worn by Diana in Italy in 1985 set a new world record for the most expensive dress worn by the royal at auction, selling for more than one million dollars in December.

After that auction, Mr Nolan said that 'the phones were ringing' as people realised 'Diana was highly collectable, reaching record prices'.

'Even one of her friends from school, [one of] her lifelong friends that Diana used to give her shoes, bags and dresses to when she finished with them, she came to us, and she said 'I'd love to sell these items because I know that Diana would want these items to go to good causes,' Mr Nolan said.

'She's raising money for Muscular Dystrophy UK, which is a charity that's very important to her.'

The upcoming sale, held by California-based Julien's Auctions, features more than 200 items from members of the royal family.

'But of course Princess Diana takes centre stage with over 50 items from her life and career, incredible gowns from all her favourite designers, but also very personal handwritten notes and cards,' Mr Nolan added.

The auction features more than 20 handwritten letters, notes, and holiday cards from Diana, which 'really speaks to the kindness and concern that Diana had and also tells us she was truly happily married,' he said.

Many of the letters are penned to Maud Pendrey, a former housekeeper at the Spencer family home at the Althorp Estate in Northamptonshire, where Diana grew up.

'She's writing to Mrs Pendrey about the honeymoon being a huge success and pregnant with William, and then William was born and then pregnant with Harry and Harry was born,' Mr Nolan said.

'We sort of forget that she was truly happy in her marriage in those early days, and these letters tell us that, so it's an important part of our royal history as well.'

Mr Nolan added that Diana is 'still loved dearly today' as 'the mother of the future King of England'.

Julien's Auctions is the same auctioneer that sold memorabilia from Hugh Hefner and Marilyn Monroe.

The auction, Princess Diana's Elegance & A Royal Collection, will be held at The Peninsula Beverly Hills on June 27.

Bidding opens at 10am on the Julien's Auctions website. A portion of the proceeds will benefit charities fighting muscular dystrophy in the UK.