Ten of Princess Diana’s dresses – including a £300,000 number she wore when dancing with John Travolta at the White House – are to go up for auction in Bermondsey next month.
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As well as the velvet midnight blue Victor Edelstein outfit Diana wore at the presidential ball in 1985, the collection – overall value estimated at &800,000 – includes a Bruce Oldfield black velvet gown, a Zandra Rhodes white chiffon cocktail dress and six evening gowns by Catherine Walker.
One of the gowns is a pink silk item which was made for Diana’s State visit to India in 1992, and is tipped to raise up to £120,000.
A spokesperson for Kerry Taylor Auctions, who are holding the sale, said: “These elegant couture creations were made by some of her favourite designers.
“One of them – a dark green velvet dinner gown – has what appears to be the print of a small hand on the skirt, possibly that of a young prince?”
“Diana was photographed wearing them not only by the paparazzi, but by some of the leading photographers of the day, including Mario Testino and Lord Snowdon.
“Some of the gowns were worn for official State visits to Austria, Australia, Brazil, India, South Korea and the United States of America.”
The dresses were originally sold in a charity auction at Diana’s request in New York in June 1997, just two months before she died in a car crash.
They were bought by Florida-based businesswoman Maureen Dunkel, who has since been declared bankrupt, hence the need for the new sell off.
Called Fit for a Princess: Important Dresses Formerly in the Collection of Diana, Princess of Wales, the sale will take place on 19 March. Viewings will be held from 17-19 March.
