Diana fashion exhibition adds never-before-seen items

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Apr 16, 2018

'Diana: Her Fashion Story' is reopening at Kensington Palace on 26 April with new and never-before-seen garments such as her iconic landmines outfit.

The fashion exhibition opened in February 2017, drawing crowds of admirers interested in learning more about the late Princess of Wales’ wardrobe and how she used clothing to connect with people and focus media attention on the causes she cared passionately about.

Historic Royal Palaces has announced that the exhibition will close between 16 and 25 April to add new items to the display, including a number of items on loan from Prince William and Prince Harry.

These will include the flak vest, simple denim shirt and Armani chinos selected for Diana’s high-profile visit to the landmine fields in Angola in 1997, as well as the pink Bellville Sassoon suit worn to board the train for her honeymoon.

A Victor Edelstein evening gown worn for an official portrait by Terence Donovan, and a floor length gown by Yuki, designed for the Prince and Princess of Wales’s visit to Japan, will go on public display for the first time, as well as a tartan day dress by Caroline Charles, worn to the 1982 Braemar Games in the Scottish Highlands. 

A purple Versace evening dress worn to a Chicago fundraising gala in aid of cancer charities will shine a light on how the Princess considered the specific requirements of each engagement when working with her favourite designers.

Eleri Lynn, exhibition curator at Historic Royal Palaces, said: “Diana, Princess of Wales was one of the most photographed women in the world, and it’s no coincidence that so many of her outfits are now among the most easily recognisable in fashion history.”

“Following the exhibition’s incredible success in 2017, we’re delighted that this year visitors to Kensington Palace will have the chance to see yet more of the Princess’s show-stopping wardrobe for themselves,” Lynn added.

The exhibition brings together a total of 28 garments, from glamorous evening gowns to everyday looks worn to a variety of engagements.