More than 50 items belonging to Princess Diana – including gowns and handwritten notes – are going up for auction this month, including a 1986 Murray Arbied embellished tulle outfit
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Over 50 items owned by Princess Diana up for auction
Princess Diana’s gowns and handwritten notes to family are among more than 50 personal items of the late royal to have gone up for auction.
A 1986 Murray Arbied embellished tulle gown belonging to the princess and worn twice that year is set to reach between $200,000-$400,000, with the current bid at $200,000 (£156,000). Two other dresses designed by Catherine Walker and worn by Diana are also up for grabs this month, both with current bids of $100,000.
Meanwhile a yellow and navy skirt suit worn during her 1989 Hong Kong royal tour is set to fetch between $30,000-$50,000, with a current bid of $10,000. Touching handwritten notes sent to the Pendrey family – with Maud Pendrey working as a housekeeper at the Spencer family home – are also available in the collection of 56 items on auction.
In one, penned on Balmoral Castle paper and dated 25 September 1982, she thanks the family friend for “spoiling” Prince William with new cardigans estimated to reach $3,000-$5,000. A note written on Highgrove paper dated 31 July 1988 thanks Mrs Pendrey for a card celebrating her wedding anniversary – also estimated to get $3,000-$5,000.
Also in the collection is a wedding invitation, signed holiday cards with pictures of Prince William and Prince Harry, plus a signed photograph of Diana with Prince William as a tot. The auction is set to commence on 27 June at 10am local time (6pm in the UK) with Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles.
A spokesperson for Julien’s Auctions said: “This stunning auction not only preserves Diana’s enduring legacy but also pays homage to the broader influence of the British monarchy on popular culture, spanning centuries of regal elegance and intrigue. From the fairy-tale ball gowns that captivated the world at her wedding in 1981 to Prince Charles, to the sleek, tailored silhouettes of the 1990s, Diana’s wardrobe mirrored her evolution as a woman and as a cultural icon.
“Diana may have been a princess, but her allure rivalled that of a Hollywood starlet. Though she left no films behind, her legacy lives on through the exquisite gowns and accessories that continue to captivate audiences, inviting them to delve deeper into her enigmatic persona. She defied the constraints of royalty, both in her actions and her fashion choices, leaving behind a timeless legacy that transcends generations.”
Fashion designer Belinda Bellville noted for her dresses loved by Princess Diana has died at 94. As well as the late Princess of Wales Ms Bellville also made pieces for Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy, as well as Princess Margaret, the late Queen’s sister. Once a fashion model, by the age of 23 she started her own fashion house Bellville et Cie, having been inspired by her gran, who ran a dress shop in Savile Row during the 1920s.
When Princess Diana was just 19 she visited the store in Knightsbridge, which Ms Bellville ran with fellow fashion designer David Sassoon. He told Channel 5 documentary Secrets of the Royal Wardrobe: “Her mother brought her into us to have a trousseau made. She had previously come in and there was a disaster with the vendeuse.
“She chose about ten dresses and her mother paid for them. I was thrilled she asked us to design her going-away outfit although I was disappointed we didn’t do her wedding dress.” Ms Bellville was credited with helping the Diana become a fashion icon, recognisable around the world.
