On 6 November 1987, Princess Diana and the then still Prince Charles – the current British monarch – attended a gala dinner in Hamburg. For the occasion, Lady Di wore a black silk and lace evening dress designed by Victor Edelstein specifically for her. She had already worn it in January, at a concert given by the Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki in London. Three days after her visit to the German city, she also wore it again, this time to attend a charity performance of Oscar Wilde’s play The importance of being called Ernesto at the Whitehall Theater in London. They were not especially notable dates or events, but the dress, like almost everything she wore, did not go unnoticed. This Thursday, June 27, this has been demonstrated, when the garment, after a flurry of offers, has been sold for the astonishing figure of 910,000 dollars – about 851,000 euros at the current exchange rate – in an auction organized by Julien’s Auction with more than 200 articles by Diana of Wales, which has exceeded four million euros in bids.
Edelstein’s dress was the most profitable piece at the auction Princess Diana’s Elegance & A Royal Collection, and the second most expensive Diana item ever sold – the first being a black dress with blue stars and a chiffon skirt by Jacques Azagury, which the princess debuted in Italy in 1985, and which sold for over €1 million. “The auction room was buzzing with excitement and lively bidding, a demonstration of the enduring allure of the people’s princess. Several lots far exceeded previous estimates, demonstrating the timeless elegance and historical significance of these items,” the auction house said in a post-sale note. The other jewel in the crown was the midnight blue tulle star dress designed by Murray Arbeid. Julien’s highlights it as one of the princess’s favourites. She wore it to the premiere of The Phantom of the Operafor dinner at Claridge’s with King Constantine of Greece or to attend the ballet performance of Cinderella at the Royal Opera House. It was estimated that it would reach a price between 200,000 and 400,000 dollars, but finally the winning bid reached 780,000 dollars – more than 729,000 euros – which reflects the iconic status of the dress.
The auction was held at The Peninsula hotel in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and featured pieces from the princess’s favorite designers, including designs by Edelstein, Caroline Charles and Catherine Walker. Beyond the haute couture, intimate items such as handwritten notes, photographs and even a worn-out ballet slipper offered glimpses into Diana’s personal life, adding an emotional layer to the sale. Many of the more than 20 letters, notes and Christmas cards written by the princess were addressed to Maud Pendrey, a former housekeeper at the Spencer family home on the Althorp Estate in Northamptonshire, where Diana grew up.
A 1984 letter to Pendrey, written when Diana was pregnant with Prince Harry, went for almost 15 times its estimate, selling for $44,450. “With the baby due soon, our lives seem very busy,” she apologizes in the opening lines of a letter signed “with much love.” Also up for auction were postcards sent to the housekeeper that included baby photos of William and Harry, with mother and son also posing with the now-King Charles III. “This comes with much love from the four of us,” reads one card that sold for $28,575.
Another of the garments that was successful is a silk shirt dress with a floral print that Diana wore to the Sports Day at Prince William’s school in June 1988, and wore again in August 1991 leaving St. Mary’s Hospital in London. or a year later leaving Prince Henry’s school in Notting Hill. Kate Middleton wore a similar design by Michael Kors in 2019, during Jorge and Charlotte’s first day of school at Thomas’s Battersea School, with which she seemed to want to pay tribute to her late mother-in-law. The original design up for auction has now sold for $444,500 (415,571 euros). A portion of the profits from this dress will go to the charity Muscular Dystrophy UK, focusing on muscular dystrophy and related conditions.
“The phenomenal results of this historic auction, held just days before Princess Diana’s birthday (July 1), demonstrate why she is and will always remain one of the world’s most beloved and inspiring cultural figures,” Martin said. Nolan, co-founder and CEO of Julien’s Auctions. “These exquisite garments, shoes and accessories not only made fashion statements, but also showcased the warmth and humanity that made Diana the most popular and greatest royal style icon of all time,” he added.
The sale featured more than 200 items and was billed by auctioneers as the most extensive collection of Diana’s personal belongings since she held her own charity auction two months before her death in a car crash in Paris in August 1997.
The accessories that completed the looks Diana’s pieces were also on sale, including Kurt Geiger’s emerald green satin evening shoes and Rayne leather handbags in vibrant hues. The violet leather Salvatore Ferragamo heels she wore during her visit to Seville in 1992, for example, fetched $127,000. “Princess Diana was a compassionate, caring person, and her fashion, worn both on the red carpet and on her philanthropic missions, shows why she was truly the people’s princess. Her items are the most sought after among royalty,” Nolan said.
