Twenty-six years after the death of Princess Diana, her spirit — and style — are as influential as ever. That much was proved true Thursday at the Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel, where Julien’s Auctions sold more than 50 of the philanthropist’s personal items, ranging from glittering gowns and heels to handwritten notes discussing her young children. It was the largest collection of the princess’ clothing for sale since an auction for charity she held herself at Christie’s in 1997 .
Auction items fetched more than $1.5 million. The collection sold Thursday, “Princess Diana’s Elegance & A Royal Collection,” was so extravagant that it went on its own royal world tour, making stops in Hong Kong, New York and Ireland before the items found new owners in Beverly Hills.
“The Princess Diana exhibition and auction are not only a celebration of her enduring legacy but also a testament to the power of fashion, art, and personal objects to evoke emotions, spark memories, and connect people across generations,” Julien’s wrote on its website . A portion of the proceeds benefited Muscular Dystrophy U.K.
, a charity Diana was involved with. The highlights were undoubtedly the gowns — in particular, a 1987 Victor Edelstein magenta silk and lace evening dress that sold for a jaw-dropping $910,000, making it the second most-expensive piece of the princess’ wardrobe ever sold. Diana wore the gown twice in 1987, first on Jan.
25 in London and then Nov. 6 in Hamburg, Ger.
