A collection of royal memorabilia including dresses, coats, letters and more from notable family outcasts like Wallis Simpson and Princess Diana went on sale yesterday in California – the home of the exiled Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
One of Diana’s dresses, a Murray Arbeid midnight blue strapless tulle Diamante Star gown, sold for a staggering $780,000 (£617,000) at Beverly Hills’s luxury Peninsula Hotel on June 27 – just days before the 43rd anniversary of the then-Lady Spencer’s marriage to Charles.
The auction, held by Julien’s Auctions and named “Princess Diana’s Elegance & A Royal Collection”, started at 10am local time on Thursday (6pm UK time), and likened Diana to a “Hollywood starlet” in its promotional material.
Julien’s said the 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”.
Diana’s dresses like this one by Murray Arbeid sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars
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Diana had worn the stellar dress on a number of occasions
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The auction house continued: “From the House of Hanover to the Windsors, each dynasty has left an indelible mark on fashion and lifestyle luxuries.
“Within this curated collection, one can explore a tapestry of royal heritage, from the exquisite handmade lace belonging to Queen Victoria to the French couture of the Duchess of Windsor, culminating in the ultimate royal icon of style: Princess Diana.”
The top seller, a black lace Victor Edelstein dress, reached a staggering $910,000 (£720,000) in the sale – while numerous other dresses reached bids in the high six figures.
While the aforementioned Arbeid dress, which Princess Diana wore to the 1986 premiere of the Phantom of the Opera, “epitomised the era’s zeitgeist, sparked “Di-mania” and solidified her status as a fashion icon”, Julien’s said.
Getty/Julien’s Auctions
Many of Diana’s dresses reached bids in the high six figures.
Julien’s Auctions
Elsewhere in the sale sat a number of items of memorabilia from historical monarchs; a pair of monogrammed green needle point slippers from the disgraced King Edward VIII sold for over $5,000 – beating its estimate by a factor of almost 10.
Julien’s noted how the Duke of Windsor “created his style among the royal family, opting for bold large-scale checks, oversized lapels, and cuffed pant legs”.
“His style reflected his personality and preference for Scottish tartans and tweed, making his attire distinct”, the auction house added.
While a Maximilian fur coat owned by Wallis Simpson after the royal couple were banished from Britain quintupled its estimate, selling for $5,200 (£4,100).
Also on offer were a number of items owned by the Duke and Duchess of Windsor
Julien’s Auctions
Edward VIII abdicated the throne in 1936
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The Sussexes live a stone’s throw from the auction in nearby Montecito
Reuters
But the auction’s California locale raised eyebrows for its proximity to another infamous royal duo: the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who live on the American West Coast in nearby Montecito.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, currently knee-deep in a feud with their London-based family, have been the subject of speculation over a possible return to Britain’s shores.
Royal Correspondent Cameron Walker, co-hosting GB News’ podcast The Royal Record, was asked whether there was any long-term chance of the Sussexes repairing their feud with the Royal Family.
Cameron said: “I don’t think they want – well, I don’t think Meghan wants – to be a working member of the Royal Family again, because clearly she disliked it so much last time. She talked about it at length during the Oprah Winfrey interview – so I don’t see that happening.
“I think it’s very sad that Prince Harry has effectively lost most physical contact with his nearest and dearest, even if there’s the occasional video call to Montecito.”
