A collection of gowns worn by the late Princess Diana will return to her one-time home at Kensington Palace for an exhibition starting in February. The dresses, including the stunning velvet Victor Edelstein number she wore at a 1985 White House reception, have been exhibited around the world since they were first purchased at auction but will now take up permanent residence in the palace.
The 14 couture gowns, mostly the creations of British designers from Zandra Rhodes to Catherine Walker, will be displayed in the lower hall of the Palace’s state apartments alongside outfits worn by Queen Elizabeth. “The Princess of Wales made a great mark on British fashion, as did many other of the royal ladies whose clothes we exhibit,” says assistant curator of Historic Royal Palaces, Joanna Marshner. “This collection draws together this very interesting group of British designers the Princess patronised. In line with many of her royal predecessors, she preferred to buy British for the big occasions.”
Perhaps the biggest occasion was the White House gala in which Diana glided across the dance floor in the arms of Hollywood actor John Travolta. Dressed in the midnight blue Edelstein creation, the Princess was the toast of the ball. “This is a very elegant dress indeed,” says Marshner. “The velvet is cut on the bias which means it fitted closely but swirled out at the hem as she danced – it made a wonderful swathe of swirling fabric.”
The dresses were purchased by American millionaire Maureen Rorech-Dunkel in 1997 at an AIDS charity auction. And while she had originally picked up the dresses as “a sound business investment”, she decided to display them following Diana’s tragic death.
“I felt an obligation,” says Maureen. “I was the guardian of the largest collection of Diana’s gowns.”
The 14-piece exhibition previously spent six months at Kensington Palace in 1999. Before the dresses are put on permanent display they are due to be worked upon by a textile preservation team at Hampton Court.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
