Auction of Princess Diana’s revenge dress

Sotheby’s has announced the auction of Princess Diana’s iconic black silk crepe ‘revenge dress’ in New York on December 9, 2026. Designed by Christina Stambolian, the garment gained historical significance when it was worn by the Princess at a Vanity Fair dinner in London’s Serpentine Gallery on June 29, 1994, shortly after Prince Charles publicly admitted to infidelity during a televised interview.

Prior to the auction, the dress is scheduled for an international exhibition tour through London, Hong Kong, and Geneva. The piece is estimated to fetch between $150,000 and $300,000. A portion of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh to support mental health and psychiatric care. The sale will also include a signed 1997 auction catalogue; that previous auction was organized by Prince William.

While the dress is being returned to the market, the jewelry that originally accompanied the outfit remains a subject of interest. The ensemble included a seven-strand pearl necklace with a large sapphire, diamond and pearl earrings, a sapphire and diamond bracelet, and her engagement ring. Some of these pieces have since been worn by the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, while others have not been seen in public for nearly thirty years.