Princess Diana auction: Gowns, accessories, handwritten letters among extensive collection on offer

A collection of gowns, accessories, and keepsakes belonging to Diana, Princess of Wales, will be auctioned in Los Angeles.

According to Julien’s Auctions, the auction is billed as the most extensive collection of Diana’s personal belongings since she sold dozens of dresses during a New York charity auction in 1997.

Diana sold a pair of gowns in that auction two months before her death, which was the top item in the upcoming sale on June 27 at The Peninsula Beverly Hills in Los Angeles.

A Murray Arbied midnight blue tulle strapless gown that Diana wore twice in 1986-to the Phantom Of The Opera premiere and to a dinner with King Constantine of Greece and to a Royal Opera House performance of Cinderella in 1987 has a top estimate of $US400,000 ($A601,685).

A magenta silk and lace off-the-shoulder evening dress designed by Victor Edelstein, which Diana wore in London and Germany in 1987, shares the same estimate.

“People will know that name because Victor Edelstein also designed the very famous navy blue dress Diana wore when she danced with John Travolta at the White House in 1985,” Martin Nolan, co-founder and executive director of Julien’s Auctions, told PA news agency.

Nolan described Diana as a “princess of economics,” wearing gowns numerous times not only for environmental reasons but also to “use her celebrity status to shine a spotlight on up-and-coming or new or unknown designers,” including Edelstein, Caroline Charles, and Catherine Walker-all of whom feature in the auction.

A pink floral silk shirt dress designed by Walker, which Diana wore to Prince William’s sports day at Richmond Stadium in 1988 as well as leaving Prince Harry’s school in Notting Hill in 1992, has a top estimate of $US200,000.

The sale comes after a Jacques Azagury-designed dress worn by Diana in Italy in 1985, which set a new world record for the most expensive dress worn by the royal at auction, selling for more than $US1 million in December.

“Even one of her friends from school, (one of) her lifelong friends that Diana used to give her shoes, bags and dresses to when she finished with them, she came to us, and she said ‘I’d love to sell these items because I know that Diana would want these items to go to good causes’,” he said.

“She’s raising money for Muscular Dystrophy UK, which is a charity that’s very important to her.”

The upcoming sale features more than 200 items from all British royal family members.

“But of course Princess Diana takes centre stage with over 50 items from her life and career, incredible gowns from all her favourite designers, but also very personal handwritten notes and cards,” Nolan said.

The auction features more than 20 handwritten letters, notes, and holiday cards from Diana, which “really speaks to the kindness and concern that Diana had and also tells us she was truly happily married,” he said.

Many of the letters are penned to Maud Pendrey, a former housekeeper at the Spencer family home at the Althorp Estate in Northamptonshire, “where Diana grew up”.