by Dr. Laura Wilhelm, LauraWil Intercultural
On the morning and evening of Tuesday, June 25th, 2024 the Peninsula Hotel located at 9882 S. Santa Monica Boulevard in Beverly Hills hosted an auction preview and cocktail reception featuring some of the late Princess Diana’s most cherished wardrobe items. Julien’s Auctions sold the pieces on the morning of Thursday, June 27th at the same location. This is the largest curated collection of Princess Diana’s items since her historic 1997 auction.
Princess Diana’s dresses, coats, hats, shoes, and bags from this singular collection were showcased stateside after a whirlwind international tour from Hong Kong to Ireland to New York to Los Angeles. The following items from the Princess Diana collection sold for the highest prices:
-$910,000 for a Victor Edelstein off-the-shoulder Spanish flamenco-style magenta silk and lace evening dress.
-$780,000 for a Murray Arbeid midnight blue strapless tulle Diamante Star gown with a fitted bodice.
-$571,500 for a Catherine Walker black velvet and white lace Victorian revival evening gown.
-$444,500 for a Catherine Walker pink floral shirt dress.
-$390,000 for a pair of green satin Kurt Geiger evening pumps with jeweled vamps.
The auction also included a personal collection of Princess Diana’s handwritten cards and letters plus signed photos dating from 1981 to 1995 that sold for hundreds and thousands pf dollars apiece. Please see the link below for a complete listing of auction items:
PRINCESS DIANA’S ELEGANCE & A ROYAL COLLECTION (juliensauctions.com)
The auction site comes replete with detailed historical descriptions of each item plus many fascinating videos featuring an impeccably dressed Diana and other members of the Royal Family presiding at various public functions. While touring abroad, Diana would often wear colors, patterns, and even designs as an homage to the country hosting her on her visit.
One could also bid on items owned by other royals and royal favorites such as Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, King George IV, VI, and VII, Queen Mary, the Duke of Kent, Wallis Simpson, Lillie Langtry, Queen Victoria, Queen Anne, and King Charles I.
The power of celebrity is profound indeed. Glamorous gowns valued at tens of thousands of dollars might be auctioned off for ten times this price if worn even once by a bona fide princess. The signature of a sweet kindergarten teacher who married a future King of England now circulates with that of Shakespeare.
Of course, we are not buying dresses and letters. We are buying dreams and longings. These costly totems could perhaps impart some of the same magic to us.
In any case, the cult of Princess Diana seems here to stay. Her auction items continue to break records, which would please her as a portion of the proceeds will be donated to charities in the United Kingdom. In times like these when the kings of the earth seem bent on destroying it, the high market value being put on the memory of Diana’s humble and generous spirit seems quite refreshing.
