3 of Princess Diana's Gowns Sell at Auction for Approximately $1.62 Million

Dresses belonging to Princess Diana are displayed during the media preview for Julien’s “Legends: Hollywood and Royalty” auction and exhibition.Photo:VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty

VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty

Three ofPrincess Diana’s gowns sold at auction on Friday for approximately $1.62 million (£1.3 million) in total.

Princess Diana wears scarlet silk Bruce Oldfield dress to the premiere of the film Hot Shots! in November 1991.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty

Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty

Princess Diana wears black and jade evening gown to a gala dinner in Canada in 1991.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty

The outlet also reported that the black and white Catherine Walker dress Diana wore to a private event sold for over eight times its estimated sale of $60,000 (£48,130) for a whopping $508,00 (£407,540).

“Our record-breaking sale of these gowns exceeded all expectations,” said Martin Nolan, the founder and executive director of Julien’s Auctions, perDaily Mail.

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Ellen’s husband Louis Petho, 83, sold the dresses for auction “to help raise money for a scholarship fund for mature art and design students,” theDaily Mailreported.

Ellen’s daughter, Karrie Petho, 60, told the outlet of her mother’s decision to show the gowns to the public for charitable reasons before her death: “‘Our mother read the inscription inside [the auction catalogue] aboutPrince Williamtelling his mother that the dresses shouldn’t sit in her closet; that they should be out in the world and doing good. I think that’s what inspired her.’”

source: people.com