A collection of items once owned by the royal family, including dresses and notes from the late Princess Diana, has been hailed as the most extensive assembly of Diana’s personal belongings since 1997, generating over R102 million.
The sale, which featured more than 200 items, was described by auctioneers as the largest collection of Diana’s personal belongings to go under the hammer since she held her own charity auction just two months before her death in 1997.
Leading the auction was a magenta silk and lace off-the-shoulder evening dress by British designer Victor Edelstein, worn by Diana in London and Germany in 1987. The gown sold for R17 million—four-and-a-half times its original lower estimate.
The auction, titled “Princess Diana’s Elegance & A Royal Collection”, also featured designs from some of Diana’s favourite designers, including Edelstein, Caroline Charles, and Catherine Walker. It was held at in Los Angeles, California.
Another standout item was a midnight blue strapless gown by Murray Arbeid, which Diana wore twice in 1986 and to a Royal Opera House performance of “Cinderella” in 1987. This gown sold for R13.8 million, nearly four times its original estimate.
A pink floral silk shirt dress designed by Walker, worn by Diana at Prince William’s sports day at Richmond Stadium in 1988 and when leaving Prince Harry’s school in Notting Hill in 1992, fetched R7.8 million. A portion of the proceeds from this gown will benefit Muscular Dystrophy UK, along with other designated lots.
The auction also included more than 20 handwritten letters, notes, and holiday cards from Princess Diana. Many of these letters were addressed to Maud Pendrey, a former housekeeper at the Spencer family home, Althorp Estate in Northamptonshire, where Diana grew up.
One particularly notable item was a three-page handwritten letter to Mrs. Pendrey from 1984, penned while Diana was pregnant with Prince Harry. It sold for nearly 15 times its estimate at R820,000.
Another, a two-page letter from Diana to Mr. and Mrs. Pendrey in 1985, which included reference photos of William and Harry, sold for R528,000. The letter was signed, “This comes with much love from the four of us.”
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