The “largest Princess Diana auction ever” is taking place on Thursday June 26, featuring over 200 items including signed books, wedding ephemera and clothes.
Martin Nolan, co-founder of Julien’s Auctions, told the PA news agency: “This is the largest Princess Diana auction ever. Diana herself did an auction in 1997 to raise money for charity, sadly two months before we tragically lost Diana.
“So now we have over 100 items representing her amazing life and her career, and of course, she’s the mum of the future king of England, Prince William, so we have really iconic outfits.
“Diana was a style icon, she knew what to wear, when to wear it, what was appropriate, she knew how to send a message by what she was wearing.
“She was very shy, but she knew by the items of clothing, it became sort of her uniform if you will and, of course, with all the amazing power suits you see behind me, the message she sent.
“She knew how to dress when she went on a royal visit to Saudi Arabia, or the United Arab Emirates, and when she was going to a hospital, she knew to wear bright colours that sick children would feel that she was likeable, huggable, approachable, and she brought hope wherever she went.”
The live auction will take place at The Peninsula, Beverly Hills, California, in the US, on Thursday June 26.
A portion of the sale of the Diana items will benefit Muscular Dystrophy UK.
Here’s some of the most iconic items on sale (and how much they were going for on Wednesday morning):
The ‘Honeymoon Send Off’ hat
Princess Diana wore this custom-made, peach coloured straw archer hat for her honeymoon send-off in 1981 and again in 1983, in Canberra. The hat was custom-made by a Scottish milliner, named John Boyd, to match Princess Diana’s Belville Sassoon peach-coloured skirt suits.
Current bid: $10,000
Two-tone Chanel pumps
The princess was photographed wearing a pair of cream and black leather pumps with a gold chain accent in Newcastle, visiting Saint Benedict’s Hospice in 1993.
Current bid: $3,000
Atelier Versace lilac skirt suit
A three-piece lilac skirt suit, designed by Gianni Versace in the 1990s, is among the chic outfits available to purchase from the style icon’s wardrobe. The letter “D” is embroidered onto the hacket’s lilac silk lining.
Current bid: $10,000
Majenta ski-suit
The princess was photographed wearing the stylish ski suit on several occasions between 1985 to 1992, from Switzerland to Liechtenstein to Austria.
Current bid: $20,000
Tourmaline and gold brooch
An ornate jewel-studded broach, comprised of 18K gold, four-carat tourmaline and diamond, is also among the items auctioned. The dazzling accessory belonged to Marion Thorpe, Countess of Harewood.
Current bid: $1,500
Framed artwork
A gold-framed artwork that reads: ‘GIRL OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER WOULD LIKE TO MEET MAN NOT QUITE THAT OLD’ is also available to purchase. The artwork was previously owned by the Duke & Duchess of Windsor.
Current bid: None yet, starting is $800
1953 Cafe de Paris Coronation Gala Dinner Menu
Bidders also have the chance to purchase the menu used for Queen Elizabeth II's Cafe de Paris Coronation Gala Dinner, held on June 2nd, 1953. The hot pink satin menu details the opulent meal, including the likes of caviar and foie gras.
Current bid: $300
Purple pencil skirt
A purple silk high-waisted pencil skirt designed by Catherine Walker is also on offer. Diana wore the skirt at an event in Loughborough on April 24 1990.
Current bid: $4,000
