Ten dresses belonging to the late Diana, Princess of Wales, including a gown she famously wore while dancing with actor John Travolta, are to be auctioned in London next month.
The collection, due to go under the hammer on March 19, is believed to be worth at least £600,000, a spokeswoman for Kerry Taylor Auctions told the Media.
The auction house said the lots included some of the "most important and iconic" dresses worn by Prince Charles's glamorous former wife, who died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi.
"Some of the gowns were worn for official state visits to Austria, Australia, Brazil, India, South Korea and the United States of America," said the auction house, which specialises in vintage fashion sales.
A Catherine Walker dress worn in 1991. Photos: Rex/Kerry Taylor
"Diana was photographed wearing them by not only by the paparazzi, but by some of the leading photographers of the day - including Mario Testino and Lord Snowdon."
The collection includes a midnight blue velvet gown by Victor Edelstein which Diana wore to a 1985 state dinner at the White House - where she twirled around the dance floor with Saturday Night Fever star Travolta.
"These elegant couture creations were made by some of her favourite designers - Zandra Rhodes, Catherine Walker, Bruce Oldfield and Victor Edelstein," said Kerry Taylor Auctions.
"One of them, a dark green velvet dinner gown, has what appears to be the print of a small hand on the skirt - possibly that of a young prince?"
A Zandra Rhodes cocktail dress worn in 1987. Photos: Rex/Kerry Taylor
Diana, who became a global style icon and was famed for her charity work, wed heir to the throne Prince Charles in a lavish ceremony in 1981. They had two sons, William and Harry, but divorced in 1996.
At Diana's request, the ten dresses were originally sold in a charity auction in New York in June 1997, just two months before she died.
Florida-based businesswoman Maureen Dunkel bought the dresses, along with four others. She was forced to put them up for auction in 2011 after she went bankrupt - but only four of them sold.
"The reserve prices were ridiculously high," said a Kerry Taylor spokeswoman.
"That sale was a bit of a disaster. But they are beautiful dresses. We have a good reputation for selling these things and the estimates are sensible, rooted in reality and obtainable."
A green velvet Victor Edelstein dress and the black Victor Edelstein dress worn when she danced with Travolta. Photos: Kerry Taylor
I would not be surprised if the dresses are auctioned off for more than £600,000, but trust me to keep you posted. So follow me on https://twitter.com/vogueimprint.
CLICK HERE Diana's Dresses: The full auction list
Designed by Victor Edelstein
Estimated price: $800,000 to $1million
Diana wore this midnight-blue dress the night she she danced with John Travolta in 1985
Designed by Catherine Walker
Estimated price: $375,000 to 425,000
This lilac wild silk gown with bolero jacket was designed for Diana's State Tour of India in 1992
Designed by Catherine Walker
Estimate: $250,000 to $300,000
Cream silk crepe. Worn for Mario Testino Vanity Fair shoot
Designed by Catherine Walker
Estimate: $175,000 to $225,000
Grey silk crepe with pearls. Also worn for Vanity Fair shoot
Designed by Zandra Rhodes
Estimate: $125,000 to $175,000
An Edwardian-style silk chiffon evening dress with glass beads
Designed by Catherine Walker
Estimate: $150,000 to $200,000
Turquoise sequinned dress. Worn on 1993 visit to Vienna
Designed by Catherine Walker
Estimate: $150,000 to $200,000
Nautical-style navy silk. Often worn on Royal Yacht Britannia
Designed by Catherine Walker
Estimate: $150,000 to $200,000
Silk and velvet tartan. Worn to 1991 ball for the Royal Marsden
Designed by Catherine Walker
Estimate: $225,000 to $275,000
Red velvet dress with tailcoat. Worn on 1992 state visit to Korea
Designed by Catherine Walker
Estimate: $150,000 to $200,000
Low back crushed red velvet. Worn to 1985 film première
Designed by Catherine Walker
Estimate: $200,000 to $250,000
One-sleeved gown ivory satin. Worn on visit to Brazil in 1991
Designed by Catherine Walker
Estimate: $225,000 to $275,000
Halter-neck black silk. Worn at Versailles in 1994
Designed by Bruce Oldfield
Estimate: $175,000 to $225,000
Dramatic black velvet. Worn to Les Misérables première in 1985
Designed by Victor Edelstein
Estimate: $150,000 to $200,000
Green velvet. Worn at private Kensington Palace
Princess Diana shall for ever be on everybody's mind. R. I. P
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