Princess Diana’s beloved ‘caring dress’ has sold for over $500,000 at a recent Julien’s Auctions event in Beverly Hills, marking one of the most lucrative sales in the largest auction of her personal items to date. The silk floral dress, worn frequently during her lifetime, earned its nickname because the media often reused images of Diana in the gown blurring the timeline of her public appearances.
Alongside the dress, dozens of other Diana-related items went under the hammer. Among the standout pieces was a rare Catherine Walker cream gown designed for her 1986 Gulf tour. Though Diana wore it to a private dinner in Saudi Arabia, she was never photographed in it. The gown was expected to fetch up to $300,000. Also included were a magenta ski suit, a peach honeymoon hat, and the iconic Dior handbag later renamed ‘Lady Dior’ in her honour.
The auction also featured handwritten notes and a signed £5.50 cheque dated just weeks before her wedding to Prince Charles in 1981. While smaller in value, such intimate memorabilia gave fans a glimpse into her personal world.
Julien’s co-founder Martin Nolan noted that many of these garments were originally sold by Diana herself shortly before her death in 1997. Nearly three decades later, they are reappearing with much higher value, now seen as investments and lasting symbols of her legacy. “People want a connection to her,” Nolan said, adding that American collectors, in particular, have shown immense interest.
Princess Diana may be gone, but through these pieces, her influence endures cherished, remembered, and continuously celebrated.
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