Princess Diana’s Iconic 'Revenge Dress' Returns to Auction After 3 Decades With a $300,000 Price Tag
Princess Diana’s head-turning dress will be going on a global exhibition tour before being auctioned in December.
Decades after her tragic passing, Princess Diana remains one of the most influential figures in the world, especially in the realm of fashion. Diana’s style game was always exceptionally sharp, and many of her memorable looks remain a source of inspiration for modern fashion enthusiasts. From her head-turning formal looks to her sassy casual ensembles and iconic gowns, a major part of her wardrobe is still celebrated today. The People's Princess had a way of merging her personal sense of style with contemporary trends to serve looks that have easily stood the test of time.
Now, one of her most exceptional dresses is set to make headlines once again, according to PEOPLE. The gown is returning to the auction house with an estimated value of around $300,000. Designed by Greek fashion master Christina Stambolian, the iconic black evening dress, famously known as the 'revenge dress,' remains one of Diana's most recognizable looks.
The late Princess rewrote the royal style playbook when she wore the figure-hugging gown to London’s Serpentine Gallery on June 29, 1994, right after then-Prince Charles publicly acknowledged his affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles. Referring to the breakdown of their marriage on television, Charles remarked, “It is a deeply regrettable thing to happen, but it does happen, and unfortunately, in this case, it has happened.”
The form-fitting, above-the-knee black dress with its off-the-shoulder neckline single-handedly dominated headlines. The Princess paired this form-fitting dress with a statement pearl necklace and droplet earrings, taking the entire ensemble to the next level. Reports confirm that this head-turning piece will be sold by Sotheby’s this December. This upcoming event marks the first time the dress has been auctioned in almost 30 years. It was last auctioned in 1997, when Diana chose to sell 79 of her iconic outfits to benefit cancer and AIDS charities around the world, fetching $65,000 at the time.
However, before officially going under the hammer in December 2026, the late Princess’s famous "revenge dress," a lasting symbol of her pride and independence, is set to go on a world tour. The global exhibition kicks off with its first public appearance at Sotheby’s London during London Fashion Week, followed by stops in Hong Kong, Geneva, and New York City’s Sotheby’s Breuer Building. The tour will offer devoted fans around the globe a special chance to see the historic gown up close and pay tribute to the "People's Princess."
