Princess Diana’s ‘Caring Dress’ Sells for $520K in Charity Auction

Princess Diana's iconic Bellville Sassoon floral dress, known as the 'Caring Dress' for its frequent use during her hospital visits worldwide, sold for $520,000 at Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills, significantly exceeding its $200,000 to $300,000 estimate. The dress was purchased by Australian collector Renae Plant, founder of The Princess Diana Museum, who has a personal connection to Diana and her legacy. The auction featured more than 300 items from Diana’s wardrobe, including a Lady Dior handbag and a ski suit, both fetching $325,000, and a Catherine Walker coat dress sold for $455,000, highlighting Diana's enduring influence as a fashion icon and humanitarian. Proceeds from the auction are benefiting the British charity Muscular Dystrophy UK. Martin Nolan, Julien’s co-founder, described Diana’s fashion as approachable and compassionate, emphasizing how her style broke royal protocol and made her more relatable. The event underscored Diana’s legacy of kindness, global humanitarian work, and sustainable style, inspiring future generations including the current royal family.