Twenty-six years after Princess Diana's death, her spirit—and her style—are as influential as ever.
That was demonstrated Thursday at the Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel, where Julien's Auctions sold more than 50 of the philanthropist's personal items, from sparkling dresses and heels to handwritten notes about her young children. It was the largest collection of the princess's clothes put up for sale since a charity auction she organized at Christie's in 1997. The items auctioned fetched more than $1.5 million.
The collection sold Thursday, “Princess Diana's Elegance and a Royal Collection,” was so extravagant that it went on its own royal world tour, making stops in Hong Kong, New York and Ireland before the items found new owners in Beverly Hills.
“The Princess Diana exhibition and auction is not only a celebration of her enduring legacy, but also a testament to the power of fashion, art and personal objects to evoke emotion, spark memories and connect people across generations,” Julien’s wrote on its website. A portion of the proceeds went to Muscular Dystrophy UK, a charity Diana was involved with.
The highlight was undoubtedly the dresses, in particular a magenta silk and lace evening gown by Victor Edelstein from 1987 that sold for a staggering $910,000, making it the second most expensive piece of the princess's wardrobe ever sold. Diana wore the dress twice in 1987, first on January 25 in London and then on November 6 in Hamburg, Germany.
The second showstopper was a Murray Arbeid gown made of cascading blue tulle accented by sparkling stars. It was reportedly a favorite of Diana's and she wore it repeatedly, including to the world premiere of “The Phantom of the Opera” in London on Oct. 9, 1986, to a dinner for King Constantine of Greece on July 6, 1986, and later, to a ballet on Dec. 17, 1987. The dress was valued at $200,000 to $400,000, but bids soared to $780,000.
Also available were several personal notes, cards, photographs and letters from Diana, one of which discussed her pregnancy with Prince Harry. The three-page letter sold for the highest price in the category, exceeding $44,000.
The public's long-standing obsession with the princess has been revived in full force in recent years, with popular shows like Netflix's “The Crown” and the movie “Spencer,” starring Kristen Stewart, exploring Diana's upbringing and her chaotic marriage with the now King Charles III. , prolific philanthropic work and tragic death at age 36.
As the current royal family struggles to overcome controversies (King Charles' “serial killer” portrayal, Princess Kate's botched announcement that she was stepping away from royal duties to undergo cancer treatment and revelations surrounding Prince Andrew's unsavory acquaintances), love for Lady Di appears to endure.
