Latest news with #PrincessDiana
CTV News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Princess Diana's ‘caring dress' fetches over US$500,000 in largest auction of late royal's fashion
Princess Diana pictured during a tour of the Gulf in 1989. Some of her most recognizable pieces are going to auction in June. David Levenson/Shutterstock via CNN Newsource A floral dress that Princess Diana wore to visit children in hospitals sold for US$520,000 on Thursday, as over 100 of the former Princess of Wales' possessions went up for auction in California. Sported in public on several occasions between 1988 and 1992, including during an official visits to Spain and Nigeria, the gown was referred to by Diana as her 'caring dress,' because its bright colours helped put sick patients at ease. Titled 'Princess Diana's Style & A Royal Collection,' the multimillion-dollar sale at The Peninsula Beverly Hills featured a range of the late princess's wardrobe items, including hats, handbags and shoes, as well as sketches and handwritten letters. Auction house Julien's Auctions described the items as the 'largest collection' of the royal's fashion ever to go under the hammer. The 'caring dress,' which was designed by high-end British salon Bellville Sassoon, was one of 10 lots to fetch six-figure sums. Among the others were a coat dress and cream silk evening gown, both designed by Catherine Walker, that each sold for $455,000. 'Caring dress' Dubbed her "caring dress," Diana wore the floral silk gown so often that the British press "grew frustrated ... because it confused people if the images were new or being reused," said Julien's Auctions' sale CNN Newsource Elsewhere, a lambskin Dior handbag given to Diana by former French first lady, Bernadette Chirac, went for $325,000, while a blue sleeveless shift dress by her close friend Gianni Versace fetched $227,500. A yellow floral Bruce Oldfield two-piece and three-piece Escada power suit both sold for $260,000. Prior to the sale, fashion designer Elizabeth Emanuel, who went on to co-create Diana's wedding gown, said in an press release that she had offered up archival items so they could be 'loved and appreciated once again by those who will never forget those golden days when Diana was our Queen of Hearts.' One of Emanuel's designs — a black taffeta evening gown that Diana wore to an event in London during her first official appearance since the announcement of her engagement to then-Prince Charles in 1981 — sold for $26,000. While many of items were worn on formal occasions, others demonstrated Diana's quintessential take on casual '80s and '90s style, including a scarlet nylon ski suit and an oversized sweatshirt bearing the logo of the British Lung Foundation (which both smashed estimates to sold for $325,000 and $221,000, respectively). Diana's fashion has frequently commanded large sums at auction — even during her lifetime. In 1997, she put almost 80 dresses up for sale via Christie's, raising over $3.2 million for cancer and AIDS research. The current auction record for a one of her outfits was set at Julien's Auctions in 2023, when the black-and-blue Jacques Azagury gown she wore to at least two public engagements in the mid-1980s sold for $1.14 million. As well as private viewings in New York, London and Los Angeles, a selection of Diana's wardrobe items from Thursday's sale were exhibited at the Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge, Ireland, ahead of the auction. The auction also included items belonging to members of the Royal Family, including the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother, with some of the pieces dating from the 19th century. A portion of the auction's proceeds will go to the British charity Muscular Dystrophy U.K., the auction house said. 'Princess Diana's legacy lives on not only through her humanitarian work but also in the timeless elegance of her style, which continues to inspire the world,' said Julien's Auctions' co-founder and executive director, Martin Nolan, in a press release ahead of the sale. By Oscar Holland, CNN
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Princess Diana's memorabilia and clothing are up for auction in Los Angeles
The largest collection of Princess Diana's belongings have gone up for auction. Memorabilia and clothing from the late Princess of Wales are up for sale in Los Angeles and includes a cheque for £5.50 which she signed just weeks before marrying the then Prince Charles in 1981. The cheque is expected to raise £3,000 but it is items of Diana's clothing that are likely to sell for the highest amounts - with a cream oil Catherine Walker falcon gown designed for her tour of the Gulf in 1986 expected to fetch between $200,000 and $300,000. The dress was worn by Diana - who died in a Paris car crash in 1997 - to a private dinner in Saudi Arabia and she was never pictured in it. A blue silk floral dress that the princess wore on several occasions is expected to fetch a similar figure while a magenta nylon ski-suit and a peach-coloured hat made for her to wear on her honeymoon are among the apparel going under the hammer. Other items include Diana's beloved Dior handbag - which was officially renamed as the 'Lady Dior' by the fashion house in her honour - and birthday cards and handwritten notes that she sent to friends and staff. The sale is taking place at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills, which previously sold a ballgown belonging to the princess for a record-breaking $1.14 million. Some of the outfits were auctioned off by Diana herself in the months before her death and Julien's Auctions co-founder Martin Nolan explained that the same clothing is reselling for far more money almost 30 years later. He said: "They're considered an investment item and they're a great conversation piece. People love Diana worldwide and we sadly only knew Diana for 16 years. Yet we feel she's still with us and we want the connection to her and the items provide that connection. That's the tangible conduit to the story. That's what we're selling." Nolan expects interest in the sale to be high around the world but believes that the items that belonged to Diana will appeal most to those in the United States. He said: "Diana is loved and appreciated and celebrated in the UK but she's absolutely held on a high pedestal here in the US. I've seen this with the people who are registering to take part in the auction from rural locations in various states who are suddenly awakened by the opportunity to own something from her life and career."
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Donald Trump's royal obsession: Diana said he 'gave her the creeps'
Donald Trump once described Princess Diana as his 'dream lady' and 'a genuine princess', even lamenting in his 1997 book that he never had the chance to court her. But while Trump saw her as the ultimate trophy wife, Diana reportedly felt alarmed by his advances - telling a friend he 'gave her the creeps' as bouquets of flowers flooded her Kensington Palace home. Once their divorce was finalised in 1990, Trump continued his relationship with Maples and the pair had a daughter, Tiffany, together in 1993 before marrying later the same year. As his second divorce played out in court, Trump met the Slovenian-American model Melania Knauss at a party in New York City in 1998. He would propose to Melania at the Met Gala in 2004 and marry her in a seaside church in Palm Beach, Florida in 2005, making her both his third wife and the future First Lady of America. And let's not forget Stormy Daniels , the adult film actress who claimed she had a one-night stand with the businessman in 2006. Trump was later found guilty of 34 felony counts stemming from a $130,000 hush money payment he made to Daniels in the run up to the 2016 Presidential Elections. But Trump himself has admitted to only having 'one regret in the women department'. Writing in his 1997 book The Art of the Comeback, he said: 'I never had the opportunity to court Lady Diana Spencer. 'I met her on a number of occasions,' he continued. 'I couldn't help but notice how she moved people. She lit up the room with her charm, her presence. She was a genuine princess – a dream lady.' It has been reported that Trump attempted to pursue Diana as his 'ultimate trophy wife' after her highly-publicised divorce from Prince Charles in 1996. In a Sunday Times column, former BBC journalist and friend of Diana, Selina Scott recalled huge bouquets of flowers arriving at her Kensington Palace home. This was the same tactic he used when wooing first wife Ivana. 'Trump clearly saw Diana as the ultimate trophy wife,' Scott wrote. 'As the roses and orchids piled up at her apartment she became increasingly concerned about what she should do. 'It had begun to feel as if Trump was stalking her.' Although Trump only met Diana a handful of times, the businessman found it hard to move on after she passed away. In a 1997 radio interview with Howard Stern a few months after Diana's funeral, Trump said he would have 'nailed' her - but suggested he would have had her tested for HIV first. 'Why do people think it's egotistical of you to say you could've gotten with Lady Di?' Stern asked his guest. 'You could've gotten her, right? You could've nailed her?' 'I think I could have,' Trump replied. The two men then acted out a hypothetical scenario in which Trump demanded Diana get tested before they have sex. 'Hey Lady Di, would you go to the doctor?' Stern joked, People Magazine reported. 'Go back over to my Lexus, because I have a new doctor,' Trump added, as if addressing the late princess. 'We wanna give you a little check-up.' In another interview with Stern in 2000, Trump doubled down on his claim that he would have slept with Diana 'without even hesitation'. Discussing his top ten hottest women on the radio show, Trump placed Diana third but only after putting his ex-wife Ivana in second place and Melania in the gold-medal position. Remembering the People's Princess, Trump described her as 'crazy' but said that was just a 'minor detail'. 'I tell you what, I think she's magnificent,' Trump told Stern. 'Lady Di was truly a woman with great beauty. 'I've seen her a couple of times. She was really beautiful, and people didn't realise she was that beautiful. She was supermodel beautiful. 'She had the height, she had the beauty, she had the skin, the whole thing.' His comments toward Diana make it all the more impressive that Prince William managed to observe decorum on meeting the American president during his state visit in 2019, at the re-opening of Notre Dame de Paris in December 2024 and yet again at the funeral of Pope Francis in April 2025. His comments toward Diana make it all the more impressive that Prince William managed to observe decorum on meeting the American president during his state visit in 2019, at the re-opening of Notre Dame de Paris in December 2024 and yet again at the funeral of Pope Francis in April 2025. But perhaps the prince always knew what his late mother truly thought of Trump, as previously revealed by Earl Charles Spencer. In 2023, Trump was gearing up to release a new book which he said featured letters from world leaders, politicians, and celebrities - including Princess Diana - who all wanted to 'kiss his a**'. In a cut-throat response, Earl Spencer tweeted: 'Surprised to hear that Donald Trump is apparently claiming that my late sister Diana wanted to "kiss his a***", since the one time she mentioned him to me – when he was using her good name to sell some real estate in New York – she clearly viewed him as worse than an anal fissure.' Trump has been invited to the UK on an 'unprecedented' second state visit which is expected to take place at Windsor Castle in September this year.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Princess Diana's 'Caring Dress' sold for $520K, her Lady Dior handbag for $325K. See what else people bought from the late royal's largest wardrobe auction.
Hopeful bidders and fans of Princess Diana were given the opportunity of a lifetime on Thursday morning: To own garments worn and beloved by the late royal herself. The auction, 'Princess Diana's Style & A Royal Collection,' took place in Beverly Hills, Calif., on June 26, and featured more than 200 items that showcased the princess's 'enduring influence as a fashion icon and humanitarian,' Julien's Auctions, the famed auctioneer company, said. Those who attended the live auction at the Verandah Ballroom in the Peninsula Beverly Hills were able to place first bids on items from the rare collection, though bidding online and over the phone with an auction house representative was also available. A portion of the proceeds from the auction will benefit the British charity Muscular Dystrophy UK, according to the auction house. Among Diana's auctioned items is her Belville Sassoon 'Caring Dress,' which sold for $520,000, her Lady Dior lambskin handbag, which sold for $325,000 and her beloved British Lung Foundation sweatshirt, which sold for $221,000. 'This collection is not only the most comprehensive offering of her wardrobe ever presented, but also a tribute to her elegance, grace, glamour, and enduring spirit. Each item is a window into a moment in history,' Martin Nolan, Julien's co-founder and executive director, said in a statement ahead of the auction. Here's a look at some of Diana's most coveted wardrobe staples, along with how much they were auctioned for. Scottish milliner John Boyd designed this custom hat, made of silk, ostrich feather plumes, feather stems and straw, for Diana's 1981 honeymoon send-off outfit. The headpiece, which she wore again in 1983, was dyed light pink to match her Belville Sassoon skirt suit. Diana wore this limited-edition ostrich feather fan to the Fanmakers' Banquet at Mason House in 1985. Inscribed on the three-plume fan's sterling silver handle is the Prince of Wales crest. Diana was famously photographed wearing this magenta nylon suit while skiing in Malbun, Liechtenstein, in 1985; Klosters, Switzerland, in 1986; and Lech, Austria, in 1992. The suit, with its dropped shoulders and funnel neckline, also features brass tone buttons and adjustable D-ring belts. Diana wore this coordinating yellow floral set to the Royal Ascot in 1987. Designed by Bruce Oldfield, the colorful coordinates feature a short-sleeve silk top with ruched sleeves and a pencil skirt in the same print. Diana was photographed wearing this wardrobe staple — a silk, floral-printed dress designed by Belville Sassoon — nine times between 1988 and 1992. The bright blue garment, with its puffed sleeves and inviting print, was dubbed the 'Caring Dress' because Diana often wore it during her visits with patients in hospitals. "It was colorful, approachable, likeable and huggable," Nolan told People. "When she would go to visit kids and people in the hospital, they gravitated toward the colors and felt they could hug her.' The winning bid belonged to Renae Plant, who runs a virtual Princess Diana museum. Immediately after learning she'd won the garment, Plant fell to the floor out of excitement. Another staple in Diana's closet was her three-piece Escada suit. The grey cashmere ensemble features a double-breasted blazer with bright blue pinstripes as well as a matching skirt and blue silk blouse. Diana was photographed wearing the ensemble on six separate occasions from 1988 to 1992. Diana stepped out in a pair of red-and-black leather heels designed by Rayne on Christmas Day at Sandringham in 1990. For the festive occasion, Diana paired the two-tone pumps with a black, white and red houndstooth skirt suit by Moschino Cheap and Chic, along with a Victor Edelstein blouse and Phillip Somersville brimmed hat. Diana was first photographed carrying the black Lady Dior handbag on her official visit to Argentina in 1995, and then later that same year during a visit to the Foundation for Conductive Education in Birmingham, England. Because of Diana's love of the silhouette, the box-shaped tote was later named Lady Dior in 1996, in her honor. The sleeveless black cocktail dress, with its delicate black beading on the bodice and subtly ruched skirt, was worn by Diana on a few occasions. The late princess wore the Catherine Walker garment at London Fashion Week in 1994 and again during her official visit to Hong Kong in 1995. Diana was photographed in a navy wool Catherine Walker coatdress while leaving the Carlyle Hotel in New York in 1995. The double-breasted garment features a black velvet collar and cuffs, and is adorned with gold anchor buttons. Featuring a long gold link handle and embossed Prada logo, the champagne-hued leather tote was worn by Diana on three separate occasions, in Moscow in 1995, and Pakistan and Chicago in 1996. No one did a slouchy sweatshirt like Princess Diana. The beloved royal had a knack for blending glamour and athleisure when it came to curating her everyday style. Included in her collection of sweatshirts was this British Lung Foundation crewneck, which she wore on several occasions. Here she's photographed wearing the sweater — with a blazer, light denim jeans, brown riding boots and a navy cap — at Guards Polo Club in 1988.
ABC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson add a touch of 'iconically Australian' style to National Gallery of Australia collection
When Princess Diana turned up to a polo game wearing a navy jumper with a koala on the front in the 1980s, it made headlines around the world. The jumper became instantly iconic — as did the artist behind it. Fashion designer Jenny Kee's career was given the royal treatment and international recognition ensued. At a time when wardrobes are filled with the ever-churning trends of fast fashion, Kee's work has stood the test of time — so it's only fitting that some of her pieces are forming a new gallery exhibition, alongside those of her former artistic partner Linda Jackson. With no 'basic tees' in sight, 80 works by the pair, including bold hand-knitted garments, silks and scarves, have taken centre stage at the National Gallery of Australia (NGA). "I just hope that people will be completely inspired by nature when they walk away ... [inspired] by art." Though Kee's famous koala jumper isn't part of the collection, the works on display are clearly inspired by Australian flora and fauna. Some of the pair's works have been on display in the gallery since March, drawing in fans and young admirers. "We've had people coming in with their old Jenny Kee knits and their Linda Jackson scarves and having their photos taken in front of the works," Simeran Maxwell, NGA associate curator of Australian art, said. The pair began collaborating in the 1970s when Jackson started selling her work in Kee's Flamingo Park Frock Salon in Sydney's Strand Arcade. Their artistic partnership ended a little over a decade later, and they both went on to create successful individual projects. For Jackson, that looked like Bush Couture Studio in Kings Cross, filled with hand printed textiles with opal designs inspired by her travels through parts of South-East Asia and Europe. Kee continued to run Flamingo Park until 1995, and her name is synonymous with bright Australiana knits and bold nature-inspired garments. The NGA's acquisition includes many previously unseen works from Kee and Jackson's early careers, and is one of the largest collections of its kind. Both Kee and Jackson donated some items to the acquisition from their personal collection. "Mine were often packed in boxes with tissue because some of them weren't suitable to be hanging on coat hangers and stuff," Jackson said. "Everything was looked after with a knowledge that possibility, as time went on, something like this could happen." Kee and Jackson's personal collections are on display as part of the first instalment of the gallery's Know My Name: Kee, Jackson and Delaunay exhibition. Alongside their vibrant designs, the exhibition also highlights works by French artist Sonia Delaunay, who was an inspiration to both artists. Delaunay was the co-founder of an art movement known as Orphism, which used intense colours and abstract forms. "It took us back to those times and how important this inspiration is," Jackson said. "Clearly you can see how earlier women inspired us." Rarely seen Kee and Jackson works will be revealed in a second instalment, due to go on display from November 2025 until July 2026. "These are not going to go into storage and we will forget about them," Ms Maxwell said. "These will be constantly in use."
