Diana Exhibition at Kensington Palace

Submitted by on Wednesday, 28 December 2011 | One Comment

Diana in famous Elizabeth and David Emmanuel dress

A few of you lucky ladies (and gents!) may have gone to see Kate Middleton’s wedding dress when it was on show at Buckingham Palace. Well, imagine the worldwide hysteria that will ensue when a handful of Diana’s most famous dresses will be available for viewing in the new year. Diana was as well known for her wardrobe choices as her charity work, and even 14 years on from her death, the publicity surrounding the princess continues.

The show, simply named ‘Diana’, will be a collection of designer dresses worn by the nation’s Royal sweetheart at Kensington Palace. The exhibition will coincide with the completion of a £12 million revamp, which has seen the Royal Gardens being redeveloped for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Five dresses will be showcased, including three which haven’t been seen in public since she wore them in the 1980s.

Keen fans of Diana’s style will recognise the black, off-the-shoulder taffeta gown worn by the princess at her first official engagement, placing her on the fashion map of that time at only 19 years old. It has recently been compared to the strapless dress Kate Middleton wore at the Sun’s Military Awards this week, with both pieces featuring similar embellishments and sweetheart necklines. The Elizabeth and David Emmanuel dress has never been displayed in the UK before, although it did sell for an astonishing £192,000 last year at an auction. The designers went on to create Diana’s world famous wedding dress a few months later.

Other dresses that can be viewed include a famous Bellville Sassoon monochrome cocktail dress, a Versace LBD and gowns by Catherine Walker – all pieces that cemented her fashion-forward status and feature in much-publicised events from her life.

This isn’t the first time we’ve been able to have a glance into Diana’s wardrobe… Her wedding dress is currently on display until 3rd January at the Enchanted Palace exhibition at Kensington Palace, in which viewers can gain an insight on the seven princesses that lived there. This new ‘Diana’ collection along with the revamp is expected to bring in over 100,000 extra visitors a year.

Deirdre Murphy, the curator, has said of the venue: “As the princess’ former home, Kensington Palace is an ideal setting to showcase these gowns – the atmosphere of the display will be truly magical.”

The show will be presented against a set created by interior designer Finola Inger and opens 26th March.

 

 

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  • chloe larkin

    Princess Diana’s wedding gown along with many of her famous dresses are curently on display at Foxwoods Casino and Resort in Connecticut. “Diana a Celebration.” The highlight of the show is her wedding gown so it can’t be in two places at once right now? It is there until Jan. 15, 2012.

    Here is the press release:

    http://www.foxwoods.com/PressItemTemplate.aspx?ID=11938

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