Items owned by Princess Diana and other royals at auction in California

An auction of items owned by the United Kingdom’s royal family will include such gems as an evening gown worn by Diana, Princess of Wales; a custom fur coat owned by Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor; a Scottish Highland officer’s sword belonging to the Duke of Windsor and already fetching a bid of $15,000; and actual gems: a diamond-encrusted watch pendant that once belonged to King George V.

Hosted by Julien’s Auctions and held at the Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel in California, Thursday’s auction features the largest collection of Princess Diana’s clothing since her own historic 1997 charity auction at Christie’s. More than 50 items – dresses, suits, shoes, handbags and accessories – in the auction of royal mementos and baubles are from the Princess Diana collection alone.

“Julien’s has had the honor of representing some of Princess Diana’s most important garments while breaking world records and we expect to make history once again with this exceptional sale,” said Martin Nolan, director of Julien’s Auctions.

Princess Diana became a style icon in the 1980s and had several favorite British designers whom she championed, including Catherine Walker, Victor Edelstein, Caroline Charles and Murray Arbeid.

The iconic Arbeid dress, a midnight-blue strapless tulle number adorned with diamante stars, which Princess Diana wore to the 1986 Phantom of the Opera premiere as well as other events, is currently fetching a bid of $200,000.

“Princess Diana was a compassionate, loving and caring person and her fashions worn on the red carpet, to her philanthropic missions, to her sons’ school days, show why she was truly the people’s princess. Her items are the most sought-after among the royals,” Nolan said.

Buyers could have the opportunity to literally walk in Princess Diana’s shoes, as there are several pairs up for auction as well. Her bold styles are present in the jeweled, emerald-green satin evening heels and the violet leather Salvatore Ferragamo pumps she wore while visiting Seville, Spain, in 1992.

Mementos from Princess Diana’s wedding to Prince Charles are included in the auction, from a commemorative ceramic goblet to a royal wedding invitation and an inscribed wedding souvenir. Also on auction are handwritten letters, signed holiday cards, and a signed photograph of Princess Diana and the newly born Prince William in 1982.

Previous style icons also have pieces in the auction, including a custom Maximilian fur coat owned by Wallis Simpson that dates to November 1965. The duchess was known to have elegant taste, “making her an icon to designers during and after her lifetime”, wrote Chandler Tregaskes of Tatler. A cream summer dress ensemble with a brown cape designed by Christian Dior oozes understated glamour, and a Hubert de Givenchy haute couture evening gown in cream silk crepe, dripping with beads at the waist, can be yours for a mere $4,000.

Also attracting high bids are the Scottish Highland regimental officer’s basket-hilt broadsword from 1938 belonging to the Duke of Windsor, and an enamel, diamond the seed-pearl watch pendant necklace, that links three royal generations.

The watch, which has King George V’s royal insignia, was gifted by his son King George VI to his granddaughter Princess Margaret, the only sibling of Queen Elizabeth II.

The collection also features items dating back to the mid-19th century, from Queen Victoria’s reign. Children’s clothing, commemorative memorabilia and yards of fine lace hint at the opulence of the time.

It has toured around the world since April with stops in Hong Kong and New York and was on exhibit at the Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge, Ireland. The Julien’s auction opens at 10am PT live and online. Portions of the sales of items in the Princess Diana collection will benefit Muscular Dystrophy UK.