The world mourned Princess Diana’s death following a tragic car accident in Paris in 1997. The “People’s Princess” legacy has never faded, and to this day, she is an icon despite her passing almost twenty years ago. Meanwhile, many of her iconic pieces of clothing have been preserved, and earlier this week, some were sold at auction. The end prizes were something out of this world.
Princess Diana moved an entire world. Even though she and Charles divorced, she continued to be somewhat of an “unofficial” royal family member and drew huge audiences wherever she went.
At the same time, paparazzi photographers, wanting every little piece of Diana, never left her alone. And in 1997, while fleeing from the press, the car she was traveling in crashed in a tunnel in Paris, killing her, the driver, Henri Paul, and her then-boyfriend, Dodi Fayed.
In 2004, London’s Metropolitan Police launched Operation Paget, an official investigation into Princess Diana’s death. A jury concluded some years later that Diana died due to the “grossly negligent driving of the following vehicles [the paparazzi] and of the Mercedes driver, Henri Paul.”
Diana’s funeral was watched by an estimated 2.5 billion people worldwide, and her legacy is still strong today. Moreover, for collectors, clothing and other pieces that belonged to the Princess of Wales are very valuable and sought after.
This week, the collection Princess Diana’s Style & A Royal Collection was auctioned off. It included many iconic pieces of clothing, such as dresses, shoes, and even handwritten letters.
Iconic Princess Diana outfit sold for millions at auction
Julien’s Auctions, responsible for the sale, wrote on its website, “The is a tribute to fashion, royalty, and the enduring influence of one of the most iconic figures of the 20th century. Diana reshaped the image of the British monarchy through clothing, using style as a powerful form of communication that transcended borders and generations. Her romantic flourishes, graceful silhouettes, and bold color choices were more than aesthetic — they were statements of autonomy.”
“Her fashion was never just about beauty — it was about meaning. That strength of purpose keeps her relevant today, with a timeless style that continues to captivate, resonate, and connect with audiences around the world.”
The auction house continued, “This collection invites bidders to step beyond the palace gates and experience a more intimate perspective of royal life — to understand who they were, what they cherished, and how they hoped to be seen. These garments and artifacts offer more than a glimpse into history; they reveal the human stories behind the crown. Diana’s style endures not only because it was beautiful, but because it was deeply empathetic — a reflection of the woman who became, and remains, the people’s princess.”
The auction was held on June 26 at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. More than 140 pieces of Diana’s clothing were auctioned off, sparking a bidding frenzy. For example, the legendary floral Bellville Sassoon dress, also dubbed the “Caring Dress,” sold for $520,000, more than $200,000 over the asking price.
Late designer David Sassoon dubbed it the “Caring Dress” because the princess often wore it when visiting hospitals and meeting patients.
“It was colorful, approachable, likeable and huggable,” Julien’s co-founder and executive director, Martin Nolan, told People Magazine. “When she would go to visit kids and people in the hospital, they gravitated toward the colors and felt they could hug her.”
Why you never see a Princess Diana coat sold at auction
Moreover, a Catherine Walker evening gown that Princess Diana wore during the 1986 Gulf Tour of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates sold for $450,000, $150,000 over the asking price.
The auction also included several handwritten letters and a birthday card signed by Diana and her two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. One letter, a signed Diana letter to Mark Simpson, a footman at Buckingham Palace, was auctioned off for $6,500.
Princess Diana was all for helping others. Prince William, who is often involved in campaigns against homelessness, has continued her cause of helping the less fortunate.
While many of Diana’s pieces of clothing are sold at auctions worldwide, one particular thing is never seen: Her coats. Speaking with Hello! Magazine, Martin Nolan at Julien’s Auctions, reveals the reason why.
“I always say, where are Diana’s coats?” he told the news outlet in early June. “We have over 300 items in this auction. Over 100 of Diana, not one coat. And it’s because in January and February, when it was freezing cold here in London, she would have one of her staff or some of her friends go with her, and she would load up the car with coats and go around and give them to less fortunate people.”
Martin Nolan added, “She didn’t want any limelight or attention to that. She was just genuine, genuine, genuine being caring and wanted to help others.”
What’s your best memory of Princess Diana? Please share your story in the comment section!
READ MORE
- Behind the gown: Diana’s quiet goodbye to the woman who understood her pain
- Princess Diana’s naughty letters sold at auction
