This summer, anglophiles will get a rare chance to own something that once belonged to Princess Diana.
Julien’s Auctions is hosting the largest-ever auction of the Princess of Wales’ iconic wardrobe on June 26. And it’s so much more than dresses this time.
“Princess Diana’s Style and a Royal Collection” will feature more than 200 pieces ranging from handbags to couture belonging to Princess Diana, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother. It will feature royal treasures dating as far back as the 19th century.
But Diana’s wardrobe and personal items will be front and center. And the reason why is simple: her enduring impact lives on nearly 30 years after her death.
The sale also includes personal items, such as notes and cards that Diana was famous for. In an article in Vanity Fair, Martin Nolan, cofounder and executive director of Julien’s Auctions said, “Diana was a very personable person; if someone wrote to her, she would write back.”
“She was sending nice handwritten notes to people that surrounded her, her support staff, the people who worked with her. She treated everyone just so graciously, and with humility, and kindness, and it just shows that she cared,” he continued.
The auction webpage says, “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. As she once asked designers, “What message will I be giving out if I wear this?”
Princess Diana Memorabilia Continues to Gain in Value
“Princess Diana’s Style and a Royal Collection” will be held at the Peninsula Beverly Hills June 26.
While many of the pieces for sale are new items from friends and colleagues of the late princess, others were originally sold by Princess Diana at her famous 1997 Christie’s auction of 79 of her most iconic gowns.
At the time, Princess Diana saw the auction as a fresh start after her divorce from then-Prince Charles. That auction, which was the idea of a young Prince William, raised $3.26 million for the AIDS Crisis Trust and the Royal Marsden Hospital’s Cancer Fund.
“Some of the items Diana sold herself, in her own auction in 1997, for the various charities that she supported,” says Nolan. “There were dresses that were selling for $30,000 or $40,000 at the time…and now they’re coming back and selling for $800,000, $900,000, $1 million.”
Nolan says the reason Diana’s items continue to gain in value is the timelessness of her elegant and sophisticated style. “Diana did not want to be boxed into the Diana era, or the Elizabethan era, or the Charles, or the Georgian, whatever,” Nolan says. “She wanted [to be] timeless.”
Other Princess Diana Auctions Have Raised Millions
This is not Julien’s Auctions first time selling items from the Princess.
“People have a love affair with the royal family. They have a love affair with Princess Diana, especially. And we thought, this is what our audience is looking for,” says Nolan. “They’re looking to own a piece of royal history.”
Julien’s Auctions shattered records in 2023 when Diana’s Jacques Azagury 1985 ballerina-length gown sold for $1.14 million. In 2024, a pair of her shoes went for $390,000 at auction. “We curated this auction, partly because of the world-record prices we’re getting for Princess Diana items and the royal family in general,” Nolan says.
Kensington Palace is Also Showcasing Princess Diana’s Fashion Sense
Princess Diana’s old home, Kensington Palace, is also showcasing the fashion of the late princess right now.
“Dress Codes” highlights royal fashion and the message behind it. The official website describes the exhibit as a look at “the codes and conventions of royal clothing, and the powerful impact fashion can make when boundaries are pushed and dress codes evolve.”
Meanwhile, “Princess Diana’s Style and a Royal Collection” will go on a mini-world tour before the June 26 auction. Starting May 1, the collection will be on view at the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle, before traveling to the Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge, Ireland, and will also be shown in London.
If you want to bid on items in the auction, registration to bid is open now here.